Water purifier and control method thereof

ABSTRACT

A water purifier having a small size and compact internal structure and enabling a water discharge part through which water is extracted to be rotation-operated, and a control method thereof.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 and 35 U.S.C. §365 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0169406, filed in Korea onNov. 30, 2015, whose entire disclosure is hereby incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

A water purifier and a control method thereof are disclosed herein.

2. Background

Generally, a water purifier may be used in home as a mechanism to filterwater and remove impurities. In the case of a home water purifier, itmay be connected to a water pipe and remove floaters or harmfulcomponents contained in water by using a filter, and configured tofilter and take out the water as much as a user wants according to theuser's operation.

The above-described the home water purifier may also dispense hot andcold water as well as purified water. Water purifiers which may beinstalled in different installation environments in a small size havebeen developed.

In Korean Patent No. 1381803, a water purifier in which a waterdischarge part through which water is taken out is provided on an upperend part of a main body unit, and after being separated from the mainbody unit, the water discharge part can be coupled again to the mainbody unit after being rotated by a set angle. The water purifier in sucha structure may allow the user to change a position of the waterdischarge part to a set position by separating and coupling again thewater discharge part while a position of a main body is maintained.Therefore, there is an advantage that the water purifier may beinstalled without a constraint of an installation space.

However, the water purifier according to the prior art has the followingproblems. First, in order to change the position of the water dischargepart, the water discharge part should be coupled again after changingthe position by separating the water discharge part from the main bodyunit. A coupling part may be damaged during the repeated separation andcoupling processes of the water discharge part.

Second, since a water discharge pipe is connected to the water dischargepart, there is a problem that a leak may be caused in a case in whichthe water discharge pipe is damaged in the separation and couplingprocesses of the water discharge part. Also, when a repeated rotationaloperation of the water discharge part is performed, a fitting part inwhich the water discharge part or the water discharge pipe is connectedmay be damaged and a leak may occur.

Third, the position of the water discharge part is determined by agroove of a coupling hole formed in the main body unit. Therefore, thewater discharge part may be positioned only at the set position in whichthe groove is formed, and may not be positioned at a random point.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the followingdrawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements, andwherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a water purifier according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the water purifier;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an assemblystructure of a top cover, a filter bracket and a base of the waterpurifier;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the top cover and an operationpart of the water purifier according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a state in which the operation part andthe top cover are coupled, seen from the lower portion;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6′ of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a take-out button of the water purifierseen from the upper portion;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the take-out button seen from the lowerportion;

FIG. 9 illustrates a lighting state of a switch LED of the waterpurifier;

FIG. 10 illustrates an operating state of the take-out button;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a rotator of the water purifier seenfrom the upper portion;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the rotator seen from the lowerportion;

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the rotator of the waterpurifier;

FIG. 14 illustrates a flow path structure of the rotator and an interiorof a water discharge part;

FIG. 15 is a partial perspective view of a filter bracket of the waterpurifier;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a coupling structure ofthe rotator;

FIG. 17 is a view of an arrangement of a valve mounted on the filterbracket seen from the rear;

FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of the water discharge part ofthe water purifier;

FIG. 19 is a cut-away perspective view of the water discharge part;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a heating and control module of thewater purifier;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of an induction heating assembly of thewater purifier seen from the front;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the induction heating assembly seenfrom the rear;

FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective view of the induction heatingassembly;

FIG. 24 is a front view of a hot water tank;

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 25-25′ of FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a control assembly of the waterpurifier;

FIG. 27 is an exploded perspective view of the control assembly;

FIG. 28 is a perspective of a cooling tank of the water purifier;

FIG. 29 is an exploded perspective view of the cooling tank;

FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 30-30′ of FIG. 29;

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of a mesh member;

FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 32-32′ of FIG. 28;

FIG. 33 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a mountingstructure of a drain valve of the water purifier;

FIG. 34 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a couplingstructure of the drain valve;

FIG. 35 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating the couplingstructure of the drain valve;

FIG. 36 is a view illustrating an appearance in which a compressorbracket is mounted on the base of the water purifier;

FIG. 37 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a couplingstructure of the base and a tray;

FIG. 38 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a couplingstructure of a tray of the water purifier;

FIG. 39 illustrates a full water level state of the tray;

FIG. 40 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a couplingstructure of a condenser bracket, a blowing fan and a condenser of thewater purifier;

FIG. 41 is a cut-away perspective view illustrating a cooling air flowof the water purifier;

FIG. 42 is a circuit diagram schematically illustrating a water flowpath of the water purifier;

FIG. 43 is a block diagram illustrating a flow of a control signal ofthe water purifier;

FIG. 44 is a perspective view illustrating a cooling water replacementwork status of the water purifier;

FIG. 45 is a flowchart sequentially illustrating a control method of thewater purifier; and

FIG. 46 is a view sequentially illustrating an assembly process of thewater purifier.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. In the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form apart hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specificpreferred embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. Theseembodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilledin the art to practice the invention, and it is understood that otherembodiments may be utilized and that logical structural, mechanical,electrical, and chemical changes may be made without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention. To avoid detail not necessary toenable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, thedescription may omit certain information known to those skilled in theart. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be takenin a limiting sense.

Also, in the description of embodiments, terms such as first, second, A,B, (a), (b) or the like may be used herein when describing components ofthe present disclosure. Each of these terminologies is not used todefine an essence, order or sequence of a corresponding component butused merely to distinguish the corresponding component from othercomponent(s). It should be noted that if it is described in thespecification that one component is “connected,” “coupled” or “joined”to another component, the former may be directly “connected,” “coupled,”and “joined” to the latter or “connected”, “coupled”, and “joined” tothe latter via another component.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in a water purifier 1 according to anembodiment of the present disclosure, a long length may indicate afront-rear direction and a width may be formed narrower in a left-rightdirection. Therefore, the water purifier 1 may have a generally slim andcompact exterior shape.

An external appearance of the water purifier may be formed by a case 10.The case 10 may be configured with a front cover 11 forming the externalappearance of a front surface, a rear cover 12 forming the externalappearance of a rear surface, a base 13 forming a lower surface, a topcover 14 forming an upper surface, and side panels 15 forming both leftand right side surfaces. The front cover 11, the rear cover 12, the base13, the top cover 14 and one pair of side panels 15 may be assembled toeach other and may form an exterior of the water purifier 1.

A water discharge part 20 may be provided on a front surface of thewater purifier 1. The water discharge part 20 may protrude forward fromthe front cover 11 and purified water may be taken out through a waterdischarge nozzle 25 protruding downward.

The front cover 11 may include an upper cover 111 and a lower cover 112.A rotator 21 may be rotatably provided between the upper cover 111 andthe lower cover 112.

The water discharge part 20 may be rotated with the rotator 21.Therefore, a user may rotate the water discharge part 20 to a desiredangle depending on an installation state or an installation environmentof the water purifier 1. An operation part 40 provided in the top cover14 may also be rotated together with the water discharge part 20.

A tray 90 installed on the base 13 may protrude forward from the frontcover 11, and may be positioned vertically below the water dischargepart 20. The tray 90 may be rotated by the operation of the user, and itmay be separated from the base 13. An upper surface of the tray 90 mayhave a grille shape so that water falling from the water discharge part20 may be stored.

A filter 34 for water purification and a filter bracket 30 in which aplurality of valves 366, 367 and 369 (referring to FIG. 17) are mountedmay be provided in the case 10, and the rotator 21 may be rotatablymounted on an upper end of the filter bracket 30. The operation part 40may be provided above the rotator 21, and the operation part 40 may beconnected to the rotator 21 and may be rotated together with the rotator21 when the rotator 21 is rotated.

A rotation ring 91 may be rotatably mounted on one side of the frontsurface of the base 13 (referring to FIG. 3), and the tray 90 may bedetachably provided in the rotation ring 91. Therefore, the tray 90 maybe rotated integrally with the rotation ring 91 while being mounted onthe rotation ring 91, and it may be positioned lower than the waterdischarge part 20. As necessary, the tray 90 may be coupled to orseparated from the rotation ring 91.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 40 and 41, a compressor 51 and a condenser 52 maybe provided in the base 13. A cooling fan 53 may be provided between thecompressor 51 and the condenser 52 and allows the compressor 51 andcondenser 52 to be cooled. An inverter type compressor which varies adrive frequency of a compressor unit and is able to adjust the coolingcapacity may be used as the compressor 51. Therefore, cooling ofpurified water may be performed efficiently, and thus power consumptionmay be reduced.

The condenser 52 may be positioned at a rear of the base 13, and may bepositioned on a location corresponding to a discharge port 121 formed onthe rear cover 12. The discharge port 121 may penetrate the rear cover12 so that air inside the water purifier 1 may be discharged to theoutside. In order to efficiently use a space and improve heat efficiencyat the same time, a flat tube type refrigerant pipe may be bent manytimes, and the condenser 52 may be accommodated in a condenser bracket54.

A condenser mounting part (or condenser mount) 541 in which thecondenser 52 is fixed and a tank mounting part (or tank mount) 542 inwhich a cooling tank 60 for making cold water is mounted may be formedin the condenser bracket 54. The condenser mounting part 541 may form ahexahedron space corresponding to the overall shape of the condenser 52so as to accommodate the condenser 52. The condenser mounting part 541may be formed so that each part facing the cooling fan 53 and thedischarge port 121 is opened, and thus effective cooling of thecondenser 52 is possible.

The tank mounting part 542 may be formed on an upper portion of thecondenser bracket 54 above the condenser mounting part 541. A lower endpart of the cooling tank 60 may be inserted into the tank mounting part542 and the tank mounting part 542 may be fixed the cooling tank 60.

Referring to FIGS. 28 to 30, the cooling tank 60 may be used to makecold water by cooling purified water passing through the filter 34, andmay be filled with cooling water heat-exchanged with introduced purifiedwater. An evaporator 63 for cooling the cooling water may beaccommodated in the cooling tank 60. The evaporator 63 may allow thepurified water to be cooled by passing the purified water through theinside of the cooling tank 60.

Referring to FIG. 2, a support plate 35 extended to the cooling tank 60side may be further provided at one side of the filter bracket 30. Thesupport plate 35 may be provided at an upper position of the compressor51, and may extend from the filter bracket 30 to the condenser bracket54, and provide a space in which a heating and control module (orcontroller) 50 is mounted.

Referring to FIGS. 20 to 22, the heating and control module 50 mayinclude an induction heating assembly (or induction water) 70 to makehot water and a control assembly 80 to drive the water purifier 1. Theinduction heating assembly 70 and the control assembly 80 may be coupledeach other and may be coupled in one module state, and may be mounted onthe support plate 35 in the coupled state.

The induction heating assembly 70 may heat purified water, and may heatin an induction heating (IH) method. The induction heating assembly 70may heat water promptly at a high speed upon a hot water take-outoperation, and it may heat the purified water to a desired temperatureand provide to the user by controlling an output of a magnetic field.Therefore, it is possible to take out the hot water of a desiredtemperature according to the user's operation.

The control assembly 80 may drive the water purifier 1, and may controlthe compressor 51, the cooling fan 53, various valves and sensors, theinduction heating assembly 70, and the like. The control assembly 80 maybe modularized and configured by a combination of PCBs divided in aplurality of parts by function. That is, in a structure in which thewater purifier 1 only takes out cold water and purified water, the PCBfor controlling the induction heating assembly 70 may be emitted, and inthis method, at least one or more PCBs may be emitted.

Hereinafter, each configuration of the water purifier will be describedin detail with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 3, therotation ring 91 may be mounted on one side of the front surface of thebase 13, and the tray 90 may be detachably coupled to the rotation ring91. The tray 90 may protrude forward from the base 13 while beingcoupled to the rotation ring 91.

The filter bracket 30 may include a bottom surface part (or bottomsurface) 31 coupled with the base 13, a filter accommodating part orspace 32 in which the filter 34 is accommodated, and a rotator mountingpart (or rotator mount) 33 in which the rotator 21 is mounted. Thebottom surface part 31 may correspond to a shape of a front end of thebase 13, and may be coupled to the base 13. By the coupling of thebottom surface part 31, a mounting position of the filter bracket 30 maybe fixed, and a bottom surface shape of the filter accommodating part 32may be formed.

The filter bracket 30 may be coupled to the base 13 by a hook method,and it may be fixed by a screw fastened to a lower surface of the base13. The bottom surface part 31 may be coupled with the base 13 at theinner area of the rotation ring 91, and configured so as not tointerfere with the rotation ring 91, and thus the rotation ring 91 andthe tray 90 may rotate smoothly.

The filter accommodating part 32 may be formed in a vertical direction,and may form a recessed space so that the filter 34 may be accommodatedwhen viewed from a front portion (left side in FIG. 3). A plurality offilters 34 may be mounted on the filter accommodating part 32. Thefilters 34 may purify supplied raw water, and may be configured so thatfilters having various functions are combined.

A filter socket 341 in which the filters 34 are mounted may be furtherprovided in the filter accommodating part 32, and a pipe to distributepurified water may be provided in the filter socket 341, and the pipemay be connected to the plurality of valves 366, 367, and 369.Therefore, the raw water may flow to the plurality of valves 366, 367,and 369 to supply water after passing through the filters 34 in turn.The plurality of valves 366, 367, and 369 may be provided on a rearsurface (opposite surface of a surface in which the filters are mounted)of the filter accommodating part 32, and the valves 366, 367, and 369may selectively supply purified water, cold water, and hot water to notonly the filter 34 but also the cooling tank 60, the induction heatingassembly 70, and the water discharge part 20.

The rotator mounting part 33 may be formed on an upper end of the filteraccommodating part 32. The rotator mounting part 33 may have asemicircle shape protruding forward so as to have a predeterminedcurvature, and may have a structure in which the rotator 21 may beseated. The rotator mounting part 33 may have a curvature correspondingto an outer side surface of the rotator 21. Therefore, the rotator 21may be rotated while being seated on the rotator mounting part 33.

An internal gear 331 may be formed on an upper end of the rotatormounting part 33. The internal gear 331 may have a curvaturecorresponding to the rotator mounting part 33, and may be coupled with apinion gear 271 described below and allow the rotator 21 to be rotatedsmoothly. The rotator 21 may be formed in a circular shape, and thewater discharge part 20 protruding forward may be further formed on therotator 21. The water discharge part 20 may be formed integrally withthe rotator 21, and may be rotated together when the rotator 21 isrotated.

The upper cover 111 may be formed above the rotator 21. The upper cover111 may form a front surface exterior of the water purifier 1 with thelower cover 112 shielding the filter bracket 30 in front. Therefore, theupper cover 111 may form a part of the front surface exterior of thewater purifier 1 between the rotator 21 and the top cover 14, and may beround.

The top cover 14 may be provided on an upper end of the upper cover 111.The top cover 14 may form the upper surface of the water purifier 1. Theoperation part 40 may be mounted on the top cover 14. The operation part40 may have a circular shape and coupled with the rotator 21 andconfigured to be rotated together with the rotator 21. A take-out button41 may be provided in the operation part 40. The take-out button 41 maybe formed so that the center of the take-out button 41 is positioned onor near an imaginary line connecting the center of the rotation centralaxis of the rotator 21 and the center of the water discharge nozzle 25.

As shown in FIGS. 4-6, the top cover 14 may form the upper surface ofthe water purifier 1. Front and rear ends of the top cover 14 may beround, and coupled with the front cover 11 and the rear cover 12, andformed to have a curvature corresponding to an upper end of each of thefront cover 11 and the rear cover 12.

A cover hole 141 may be formed on the top cover 14. The cover hole 141may be opened in a size and shape corresponding to the operation part 40so that the operation part 40 may be rotatably mounted.

A base mounting part (or base mount) 142 and a base supporting part (orbase support) 143 to fix an operation part base 42 forming a lowerportion of the operation part 40 may be formed inside the cover hole141. The base mounting part 142 may be extended from the cover hole 141toward a central side of the cover hole 141, and provided in plural tobe spaced at equal intervals. The base mounting part 142 may be formedin a shape in which an end part is bent inward, and may press andcircumferential surface of the operation part base 42.

The base supporting part 143 may extend from a rear portion to an innerside of the cover hole 141. The base supporting part 143 may have adownward slope toward the center of the cover hole 141, and may supportthe operation part base 42 from the lower portion. A projection 425protruding to have an inclined surface corresponding to the basesupporting part 143 may be formed on the circumferential surface of theoperation part base 42. Therefore, the base supporting part 143 and theprojection 425 may maintain a state of contact with each other and astable supporting state may be maintained even when the operation part40 is rotated.

A step part 144 may be formed on the periphery of the cover hole 141 andthe circumference of the operation part 40 may be seated on the steppart 144. Therefore, the operation part 40 may be supportedadditionally, and the rotation of the operation part 40 may be madestably.

The operation part 40 may include the operation part base 42, anoperation part PCB 43 and an operation part cover 44. The operation partbase 42 may form lower portion exterior of the operation part 40 and maybe mounted on the cover hole 141 and support so that the operation part40 is rotatable at the top cover 14.

The operation part base 42 may have a same diameter as that of the coverhole 141. The circumference of the operation part base 42 may beextended upward and coupled with the operation part cover 44 to form aspace therein.

A rotation connecting part 421 extended downward may be further formedat both sides of a lower surface of the operation part base 42. Therotation connecting part 421 may be coupled with the rotator 21 and maybe connected to each other so that the rotator 21 may be rotated withthe operation part 40.

Mounting bosses 422 and 423 for screw-fastening to fix and mount theoperation part PCB 43 may protrude from the inner side of the operationpart base 42. A wire hole 424 in which a wire connected with theoperation part PCB 43 is accessed may be further formed on a bottomsurface of the operation part base 42.

In the mounting bosses 422 and 423 supporting the operation part PCB 43,a mounting boss 422 positioned at a rear portion may be higher than amounting boss 423 position at a front portion. Therefore, the operationpart PCB 43 may be slanted that the rear end is higher than the frontend. The slope of the operation part PCB 43 may correspond to a slope ofan upper surface 441 of the operation part cover 44. Also, an uppersurface of each of the mounting bosses 422 and 423 in which theoperation part PCB 43 is seated may be slanted.

A plurality of operation members to operate the water purifier 1 may bemounted on the operation part PCB 43. The operation member may be aswitch or sensor, and various types of input devices enabling a signalinput by the user's operation may be used.

For example, a plurality of touch sensors 431 may be provided on theoperation part PCB 43. The touch sensor 431 may detect a touch of theuser, and a variety of touch sensors such as a touch resistive method,capacitive method, ultrasonic method, or infrared method may be used.The plurality of touch sensors 431 may be configured so that the usermay select and operate a variety of functions such as a function ofselecting purified water, cold water or hot water, a function ofcontrolling a temperature control of hot water, a function ofcontrolling the amount of taken out water, and the like through theuser's touch input.

A switch 432 may be provided on one side of the operation part PCB 43.The switch 432 may be a general switch operated by a pressing operation,and may be pressed by an operation of the take-out button 41. The valves366, 367, and 369 for the water discharge may be selectively driven byon and off of the switch 432, and selected water of the purified water,cold water, and hot water may be taken out.

A plurality of LEDs 433 and 434 may be provided on the operation partPCB 43. The plurality of LEDs 433 and 434 may display information andmay display locations of the plurality of touch sensors 431 and theswitch 432 or an operation state.

The plurality of LEDs 433 and 434 may be configured with a sensor LED433 provided on a location adjacent to the touch sensor 431 in order todisplay the location of the touch sensor 431 or display the operatingstate of the water purifier 1, and a switch LED 434 provided at alocation adjacent to the switch 432 to display the operating informationof the water purifier 1. A separate display device may be furtherprovided on the operation part PCB 43, and the operating state of thewater purifier 1 may be output to the outside by the display device.

A buzzer 435 may be installed on the operation part PCB 43. The buzzer435 may output the operating state of the water purifier 1 in sound. Forexample, when the water purifier 1 is operated abnormally, the buzzer435 may output a sound and at this time, the output sound may be a soundor beep sound having a certain pattern and may transmit information tothe user. Also, in typical operating conditions, not a malfunctionsituation, an operating state may be transmitted through the buzzer 435.

The operation part base 42 may be coupled to the operation part cover44. The operation part cover 44 may form an upper portion shape of theoperation part 40, and form an exterior appearance of the operation part40 exposed to the outside while the operation part 40 is mounted on thetop cover 14.

The lower surface of the operation part cover 44 may have a circularshape corresponding to the upper surface of the operation part base 42,and the upper surface of the operation part cover 44 may be formedobliquely. That is, the operation part cover 44 may be shaped such thata front end is low and a rear end is high, and it may be formed so thatthe upper surface 441 has a slope. The slope of the upper surface 441 ofthe operation part cover 44 may correspond to the slope of the operationpart PCB 43 and improve the operability of the touch sensor 431 and theswitch 432, while the user's usability and readability may be improved.

A plurality of sensor holes 442 may be formed on the upper surface ofthe operation part cover 44. The sensor holes 442 may be opened at alocation corresponding to the touch sensors 431. Therefore, the user isable to operate the touch sensor 431 by touching an operation part plate46 at a location corresponding to the sensor holes 442.

A button hole 443 may be formed on the operation part cover 44. Thebutton hole 443 may be opened so that a part of the take-out button 41may be accessed, and it may be positioned above the switch 432. A buttonhook part 444 in which the take-out button 41 is fixed and mounted maybe formed on the outer side of the button hole 443. The button hook part444 may have a hook shape which may be inserted into a hook hole 414 ofthe take-out button 41. The button hook part 444 may penetrate the hookhole 414, and an end of the button hook part 444 may have a hook shapeso as to be held and restricted. Therefore, the take-out button 41 maybe mounted at an exact position on the operation part cover 44 and themounting position thereof may be maintained to be fixed.

The take-out button 41 may be provided on the lower surface of thebutton hole 443. A button plate 411 shielding the opening of thetake-out button 41 and exposed to the outside may be provided on anupper surface of the take-out button 41. The button plate 411 may betransparent or semi-transparent, and it may be formed so that lightemitted from the switch LED 434 provided on the operation part PCB 43 atthe location corresponding to the button hole 443 may be transmitted. Abutton ring 412 may be provided on the periphery of the button plate411. The button ring 412 may shield a space between the button plate 411and the button hole 443.

An adhesive sheet 45 may be provided on the upper surface 441 of theoperation part cover 44, and the operation part plate 46 may be providedon the upper surface of the adhesive sheet 45 and form the upper surfaceof the operation part 40. Both surfaces of the adhesive sheet 45 mayhave adhesive strength and attach the operation part plate 46 to theupper surface 441 of the operation part cover 44. A protrusion holewhich corresponds to the sensor hole 442 and the button hole 443 may beformed on the adhesive sheet 45.

Since the operation part plate 46 forms an exterior appearance, it maybe formed of glass, a high-gloss plastic material or a metal material.The operation part plate 46 may be formed of a transparent orsemi-transparent material, and may allow light emitted from the sensorLED 433 which is adjacent to the touch sensor 431 to be transmitted, andthus the user may easily identify the operation location. A position ofthe touch sensor 431 or touch operation position of the user may bedisplayed on the operation part plate 46 by surface processing orprinting as needed.

A hole 461 corresponding to the button plate 411 may be formed on theoperation part plate 46, and the button plate 411 may be positioned onthe hole 461 and may be possible to move independently. The operationpart plate 46 and the button plate 411 may be formed of the samematerial and thus may have a uniform appearance.

As shown in FIGS. 7-10, the take-out button 41 may be mounted on thelower surface of the operation part cover 44, and the hook hole 414 maybe formed on each of four edges. An edge of the hook hole 414 may beformed upward, and the button hook part 444 may be inserted into thehook hole 414 such that the button hook part 444 and the hook hole 414may be coupled each other.

A pressing part 413 moved by a pressing operation of the user may beformed at the center of the take-out button 41. The pressing part 413may have a size corresponding to a size of the button hole 443 so as tobe positioned in the inner side of the button hole 443. The pressingpart 413 may protrude upward and at least a part thereof may bepositioned in the button hole 443 so that the user may perform apressing operation.

A light transmitting part 4131 may be formed in the center of thepressing part 413, and the light transmitting part 4131 may be shieldedby the button plate 411. A plate rib 4132 which allows the button plate411 to be indented may protrude and formed on the outer side of thelight transmitting part 4131.

A step part 4111 seated on the plate rib 4132 may protrude from thecircumference of the button plate 411. Also, an insert part 4112 mayprotrude from the button plate 411, and the insert part 4112 may have ashape corresponding to the light transmitting part 4131 and may beinserted into the inner side of the light transmitting part 4131.

A light guide 4133 extended downward along the circumference of thelight transmitting part 1431 may be further formed on the lower surfaceof the pressing part 413. The light guide 4133 may extend toward theoperation part PCB 43 and form the light transmitting part 4131. Thelight guide 4133 may be spaced apart from the operation part PCB 43 at apredetermined distance so as not to interfere with the operation partPCB 43 when the pressing part 413 is moved.

The switch LED 434 may be positioned on the operation part PCB 43corresponding to an inner side area of the light guide 4133. A pluralityof switch LEDs 434 may be mounted, and one switch LED 434 may emitvarious colors of light.

The light emitted from the switch LED 434 may move along the light guide4133 and pass by the light transmitting part 4131 and pass through thebutton plate 411. Therefore, the user may see the light emitted bypassing through the take-out button 41, and also may confirm a life ofthe filter 34 or a selection state of hot water, cold water, andpurified water through a color of light appearing through the take-outbutton 41.

For example, when a life of the filter 34 remains, the take-out button41 may emit a blue color light, and when the life of filter 34 isexpired and replacement is needed, orange color light may be omitted.Thus, the state of the filter 34 may be immediately delivered to theuser, and a replacement period of the filter 34 may be notified.

An elastic part 4134 cut and formed along a circumference of thepressing part 413 may be formed on the circumference of the pressingpart 413. The elastic part 4134 may be configured by a plurality ofincision parts 4135, and it may be moved by being elastically deformeddownwardly from the upper surface of the take-out button 41 when thepressing part 413 is pressed, and when a hand is released therefrom, thepressing part 413 may be returned to its original position by an elasticrestoring force.

A rotation supporting part 4136 may protrude from a front end (left sidein FIG. 10) of the pressing part 413, and a contact part 4137 may beformed at a rear end of the pressing part 413. The contact part 4137 maybe position at an upper side of the switch 432. The rotation supportingpart 4136 may protrude downward, but may maintain a contacted state witha base supporting part 426 of the operation part base 42 when thetake-out button 41 is mounted.

Therefore, when the pressing part 413 is pressed, since the rotationsupporting part 4136 is in contact with the base supporting part 426,the pressing part 413 may rotate in a clockwise direction (viewed inFIG. 9) an axis defined laterally by around the rotation supporting part4136 even if the pressing part 413 is pressed at any position thereof.That is, the contact part 4137 may be moved downward. Especially, whenthe pressing part 413 pivots, a movement distance of the contact part4137 positioned opposite to the rotation supporting part 4136 may beenough to press the switch 432.

The contact part 4137 may be positioned above the switch 432, and maymaintain a separated state from the switch 432 before a pressingoperation of the pressing part 413. When the pressing part 413 ispressed, the pressing part 413 may rotate around the rotation supportingpart 4136, and the contact part 4137 may press the switch 432.

Due to this structure, the contact part 4137 may precisely press theswitch 432 when the user presses any position of the pressing part 413.Also, as the switch 432 is positioned outside of the light transmittingpart 4131, the switch LED 434 may be positioned on the opening locationof the take-out button 41, and the light emitted from the switch LED 434may be transmitted through the take-out button 41.

As shown in FIGS. 11-14, the rotator 21 may have a rotator housing 22.The rotator housing 22 may have a hollow part therein and may be formedin a cylindrical shape having a height shorter than the diameter.

The rotator 21 may have an upper portion guide bracket 23 and a lowerportion guide bracket 24 spaced apart from each other on an inner upperportion and an inner lower portion of the rotator housing 22. Afastening part 221 may protrude from an inner side surface of therotator housing 22, and fastening holes 231 and 241 may be formed atintervals in a circumferential direction on the upper portion guidebracket 23 and the lower portion guide bracket 24. A bolt may beinserted into the fastening part 221 through the fastening holes 231 and241, and the upper portion and lower portion guide brackets 23 and 24may be spaced apart each other from the inner side surface of therotator housing 22.

A plurality of fastening hooks 237 and 247 may be formed along thecircumference of the upper portion guide bracket 23 and the lowerportion guide bracket 24, and a fastening projection 222 may be formedon the inner side surface of the rotator housing 22. The fastening hooks237 and 247 and the fastening projection 222 may restrict each other andperform a provisional fix when the upper portion guide bracket 23 andthe lower portion guide bracket 24 are coupled with each other.

The rotator 21 may further include rail accommodating grooves 232 and242 concavely formed along a circumferential direction on the upperportion guide bracket 23 or the lower portion guide bracket 24. The railaccommodating grooves 232 and 242 may include a lower portion railaccommodating groove 242 accommodating a first rotation guide rail 332formed on the upper cover 111 and an upper portion rail accommodatinggroove 232 accommodating a second rotation guide rail 1111. Rotationguide projections 233 and 243 protruding from one side surface of theupper portion rail accommodating groove 232 or the lower portion railaccommodating groove 242 in an upward direction or downward direction,or protruding from one side surface of the upper portion railaccommodating groove 232 and the lower portion rail accommodating groove242 in the upward direction and downward direction may be formed.

The rotator 21 may include a circular shaped upper portion center ring234 and a lower portion center ring 244 respectively arranged at centralportions of the upper portion guide bracket 23 and the lower portionguide bracket 24. An upper connecting part 235 and a lower connectingpart 245 may horizontally extend respectively from the inner sidesurfaces of the upper portion guide bracket 23 and the lower portionguide bracket 24 to the upper portion center ring 234 and the lowerportion center ring 244, and the upper portion center ring 234 and thelower portion center ring 244 may be connected to and supported by theupper portion guide bracket 23 and the lower portion guide bracket 24 bythe upper connecting part 235 and the lower connecting part 245. Theupper and lower connecting parts 235 and 245 may each be formed in asector shape and include a plurality of through-holes therein.

The upper portion center ring 234 and the lower portion center ring 244may dictate an installation position of the water discharge pipe throughwhich water is flowed to the user. The upper portion center ring 234 andthe lower portion center ring 244 may be formed on the center of therotator 21 and become a center of the rotation when the rotator 21 isrotated.

A T connector 26 may be provided on the upper portion center ring 234and the lower portion center ring 244. One side of the T connector 26may extend to the water discharge part 20 side and may be connected to awater discharge pipe 261 connected to the water discharge nozzle 25, andthe other two sides thereof may be respectively connected to a coldwater pipe 262 at an upper portion and a purified water pipe 263 at alower portion. The purified water pipe 263 and the cold water pipe 262may be connected to the T connector 26 by a rotation pipe 264.

The cold water pipe 262 and the purified water pipe 263 may respectivelypenetrate the upper portion center ring 234 and the lower portion centerring 244, and the T connector 26 may be positioned in a space betweenthe upper portion center ring 234 and the lower portion center ring 244.Therefore, the T connector 26 may always maintain a constant locationwithout being changed.

The rotation pipe 264 may be formed of a stainless material. A fittinggroove 2641 may be formed along a circumference of the upper portion andthe lower portion of the rotation pipe 264. A metal collet may beinserted in the fitting groove 2641 when an upper end and a lower end ofthe rotation pipe 264 are coupled to the T connector 26.

When the rotator 21 is rotated, the T connector 26 may be rotated aroundthe rotation pipe 264, and twisting of a pipe forming a flow path forthe water discharge may be prevented. Especially, the rotation pipe 264may be a stainless material, so even in the combination of repetitiverotation by the rotation of the rotator 21 and the metal collet, therotation pipe 264 may not be damaged or deformed, and thus a leakage maybe prevented.

A hot water pipe 265 connected with a hot water tank 71 and supplyinghot water may be directly connected to the water discharge nozzle 25without going through the water discharge part 20. When hot water istaken out, water of the hot water tank 71 may be taken out directly, andthe quality of water may be improved. In the case when using a commonflow path for cold water or purified water, hot water which is firsttaken out may not satisfy the temperature by cold water or purifiedwater that remains on the flow path when the hot water is taken out. Inthe case in which the separate hot water pipe 265 is connected to atake-out nozzle, the hot water of the hot water tank 71 may be suppliedto the water discharge nozzle 25 without loss of temperature.

Two coupling rings 236 and 246 may be formed in the inner side of theupper and lower portion guide brackets 23 and 24. A circular couplinghole may be formed in each of the coupling rings 236 and 246, and onepair may be provided on both right and left sides. One pair of couplingrings 236 and 246 provided on both sides may be arranged symmetricallyto each other relative to the center line crossing the rotation axis ofthe rotator 21 in a radial direction. The coupling rings 236 and 246 maybe formed on both of the upper portion guide bracket 23 and the lowerportion guide bracket 24 or only on the upper portion guide bracket 23.

The coupling rings 236 and 246 may be coupled to the rotation connectingpart 421 at a bottom surface of the operation part 40. A pair ofrotation connecting parts 421 may be inserted through the coupling rings236 and 246, and therefore, when the rotator 21 is rotated, theoperation part 40 may be rotated together.

When the operation part 40 and the rotator 21 are rotated together bythe coupling of the operation part 40 and the rotator 21, the take-outbutton 41 and the water discharge part 20 may be rotated together.Thereby, as the take-out button 41 and the water discharge nozzle 25 arepositioned on the same line and rotated, since the positions of thetake-out button 41 and the water discharge nozzle 25 do not need to beadjusted separately, the user's operability may be improved.

An oil damper 27 may be provided on the bottom surface of the rotator21, specifically on the lower portion guide bracket 24. The oil damper27 may allow the rotator 21 to be rotated smoothly without a hangingfeeling when the water discharge part 20 is rotated, and allow therotator 21 to be rotated at a certain speed by simply applying a forceof a predetermined size.

The oil damper 27 may have a general structure used for making arotation speed constantly, and detailed description is omitted. Thepinion gear 271 may be coupled to a rotation shaft of the oil damper 27,and the pinion gear 271 may move along the internal gear 331 formed onthe upper end of the filter bracket 30.

The pinion gear 271 may be a circular shape having a curvature radiuswhich is much smaller than the curvature radius of the internal gear331, and the number of teeth thereof may also be small. When the rotator21 is mounted on the upper end part of the filter bracket 30, the piniongear 271 may be positioned on the inner side surface of the internalgear 331, and may be combined to be engaged with the internal gear 331.

As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the internal gear 331 may be formed on theupper end of the filter bracket 30. The internal gear 331 may have aconstant curvature on the upper end part of the rotator mounting part33. The internal gear 331 may be spaced apart from the first rotationguide rail 332 in a radial direction. The internal gear 331 may bepositioned adjacent to an outer edge of the upper end portion of thefilter bracket 30, and may be disposed concentrically with the firstrotation guide rail 332. Therefore, when the rotator 21 is mounted, theinternal gear 331 may be engaged with the pinion gear 271.

The rear surface of the filter bracket 30 may be opened rearward, andthe rear end part of the filter bracket 30 may be coupled to the frontend part of the side panel 15. The first rotation guide rail 332 may beprovided on the upper end of the filter bracket 30 so that the rotator21 is rotatably mounted in a left-right side direction.

The first rotation guide rail 332 may be formed of a semicircularcurvature to guide a rotation of the rotator 21. The first rotationguide rail 332 may be fixed to an inside of the upper end part of thefilter bracket 30.

The second rotation guide rail 1111 protruding from an inner surface ofthe upper cover 111 may be further provided. The second rotation guiderail 1111 may be formed on an upper portion facing the first rotationguide rail 332 in the same shape and guides the rotation of the rotator21.

The first rotation guide rail 332 and the second rotation guide rail1111 may be spaced apart from each other having the rotator 21interposed therebetween. Therefore, by the mounting of the rotator 21,the upper end and lower end of the rotator 21 may be coupled with thefirst rotation guide rail 332 and the second rotation guide rail 1111and guide the rotation of the rotator 21.

The rotator 21 may horizontally rotate the water discharge part 20 tothe left or right side. The rotator 21 may have the rotation guideprojections 233 and 243 formed at a constant curvature from the centerpart without having a rotation axis, and may be slidably coupled alongthe rotation guide rails 332 and 1111 by using the rotation guideprojections 233 and 243.

Although there is a difference that the rotation guide projections 233and 243 are provided on the rotator 21, and the rotation guide rails 332and 1111 are provided on the filter bracket 30 and the upper cover 111,the rotation guide projections 233 and 243 and the rotation guide rails332 and 1111 may be made of the same curvature and coupled to be engagedwith each other, thereby guiding the rotation of the rotator 21. Forexample, the rotation guide projections 233 and 243 may be configuredwith a lower portion rotation guide projection 243 formed to protrudefrom the lower portion rail accommodating groove 242 of the lowerportion guide bracket 24 in a downward direction and an upper portionrotation guide projection 233 formed to protrude from the upper portionrail accommodating groove 232 of the upper portion guide bracket 23 inan upward direction.

End parts of the rotation guide projections 233 and 243 may be formed ina hook shape. When the rotation guide projections 233 and 243 and therotation guide rails 332 and 1111 are coupled, the inner surfaces of theend parts of the rotation guide projections 233 and 243 may beoverlapped with and face a part of the rotation guide rails 332 and 1111in the thickness direction, and they may be contacted.

The rotation guide projections 233 and 243 may have a same curvature asthe rotation guide rails 332 and 1111, and slidably coupled to therotation guide rails 332 and 1111 in the rotation direction. When therotation guide projections 233 and 243 and the rotation guide rails 332and 1111 are coupled, the rotation guide rails 332 and 1111 may beaccommodated in the rail accommodating grooves 232 and 243 formedinwardly from the rotation guide projections 233 and 243, and onesurface of the rail accommodating grooves 232 and 242 and the rotationguide rails 332 and 1111 may be overlapped in the thickness direction,and the end parts of the rotation guide projections 233 and 243 may becomposed of the hook shape and coupled to be overlapped with therotation guide rails 332 and 111 in the thickness direction.

According to this coupling structure, the water discharge part 20 may berotated stably, and the location of the water discharge nozzle 25 may bechanged freely without separating the water discharge part 20. In thiscase, a separate rotation shaft does not need to be formed on the centerof the rotator 21.

In a structure in which the water discharge part 20 is formed toprotrude from the one side surface of the rotator 21, even if therotator 21 is rotated while holding the water discharge part 20, thewater discharge part 20 may be lifted up or down by the eccentric loadof the water discharge part 20, and thus a problem that the rotation ofthe water discharge part 20 and the rotator 21 becomes unstable may beeliminated. Also, the rotator 21 may be prevented from being detached bythe hook shape of the rotation guide projections 233 and 243. When therotator 21 is rotated, since a contact surface between the rotationguide projections 233 and 243 and the rotation guide rails 332 and 1111is wide, in the case of rotating with holding the water discharge part20, the eccentric load may be distributed, and thus damage such as wearand scratches due to friction may be reduced.

The rotation guide projections 233 and 243 respectively formed on theupper portion guide bracket 23 and the lower portion guide bracket 24may be preferably made of a different material from that of the rotationguide rails 332 and 1111. The rotation guide projections 233 and 243 maybe formed of engineering plastic (POM) which has excellent fatigueresistance, toughness, and wear resistance. Therefore, when the rotationguide projections 233 and 243 are rotated along the rotation guide rails332 and 1111, the wear and noise due to a mutual friction between therotation guide projections 233 and 243 and the rotation guide rails 332and 1111 may be reduced.

As shown in FIG. 17, a temperature sensor bracket 74, a water supplyvalve 361, a flow sensor 363, a purified water discharge valve 367, acold water discharge valve 366, and a flow control valve 368 may beprovided on the rear surface of the filter bracket 30. These valves maybe provided on the rear surface of the filter bracket 30 on an upperportion area of the support plate 35 and may use the internal space ofthe water purifier 1 efficiently.

The water supply valve 361 may be connected to a pipe connected to theoutlet side of the filter 34, and determine the flow of water suppliedfrom the filter 34. The flow sensor 363 may be provided on the outletside of the water supply valve 361 and detect a flow rate of waterpassing through the water supply valve 361.

A branch pipe 364 may be connected to a pipe connected to the outlet ofthe flow sensor 363. The outlet of the branch pipe 364 may berespectively branched to a cold purified water side 3641 and a hot waterside 3642. A pipe connected to the cold purified water side 3641 of thebranch pipe 364 may be branched again by a T connector 365, and branchedto a cold water side 3651 and a purified water side 3652. The cold waterside 3651 and the purified water side 3652 may be respectively connectedto the cold water discharge valve 366 and the purified water dischargevalve 367, and therefore, the supply of the purified water and coldwater may be decided.

The purified water discharge valve 367 may be connected to the purifiedwater pipe 263, and the purified water pipe 263 may be extended andconnected to one side of the T connector 26 by the rotation pipe 264.The cold water discharge valve 366 may be connected to the cooling tank60 and allow purified water to be supplied to the cooling tank 60 andcooled. The cold water pipe 262 may be connected to the outlet of thecooling tank 60, and the cold water pipe 262 may be extended andconnected to another side of the T connector 26 by the rotation pipe264.

A pipe connected to the hot water side 3642 of the branch pipe 364 maybe connected to the flow control valve 368. The flow control valve 368may control the flow rate of the water supplied to the hot water tank71, and may heat water passing through the hot water tank 71 at acertain temperature or higher by controlling the flow rate.

In the case in which the amount of water passing through the hot watertank 71 is too much, the water rapidly passing through the hot watertank 71 may not be heated effectively, and in this situation, thetemperature condition of hot water may not be satisfied. Therefore, inthe case of taking out high temperature hot water, the water may beheated by controlling the amount of water supplied to the hot water tank71. In the case in which the temperature of the supplied water is toolow, the heating performance at the hot water tank 71 may be improved byreducing the amount of introduced water.

A water inflow temperature sensor may be provided on the flow controlvalve 368 or any one side of inlet and outlet of the flow control valve368, and the opening degree of the flow control valve 368 may becontrolled by the water inflow temperature sensor.

A pipe connected with the outlet of the flow control valve 368 may beconnected to the inlet of the hot water tank 71, and the outlet of thehot water tank 71 may be connected to the hot water discharge valve 369,and hot water extraction may be determined by the opening and closing ofthe hot water discharge valve 369. The hot water discharge valve 369 maybe connected to the hot water pipe 265, and the hot water pipe 265 maybe connected to the water discharge nozzle 25 of the water dischargepart 20 to take out water to the outside.

As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the water discharge part 20 may extend fromthe rotator housing 22, and communicate with the inner side of therotator housing 22 so that the water discharge pipe 261 and the hotwater pipe 265 may be introduced. The water discharge part 20 mayinclude a water discharge part housing 201 and a water discharge partcover 202. An upper surface of the water discharge part housing 201 maybe opened, and the water discharge part housing 201 may form a space inwhich the water discharge pipe 261 and the hot water pipe 265 may bedisposed. The water discharge part cover 202 may shield the opened uppersurface of the water discharge part housing 201.

A water discharge hole 2011 may be formed on a bottom surface of thewater discharge part housing 201, and the water discharge nozzle 25 maybe mounted on the water discharge hole 2011. The water discharge pipe261 and the hot water pipe 265 connected to the water discharge nozzle25 may be guided to the inner side of the rotator housing 22 through theinner side of the water discharge part housing 201.

The water discharge nozzle 25 may include a cold purified waterconnecting part 251 and a hot water connecting part 252 so as to beindependently connected to the water discharge pipe 261 and the hotwater pipe 265. The cold purified water connecting part 251 may extendso as to penetrate one side of a side surface of the water dischargenozzle 25 and may be connected to the water discharge pipe 261. The hotwater connecting part 252 may extend so as to penetrate the other sideof the side surface of the water discharge nozzle 25 and may beconnected to the hot water pipe 265. Therefore, cold water, purifiedwater and hot water may be taken out independently through one waterdischarge nozzle 25.

A nozzle fixing part 253 which may fix and mount the water dischargenozzle 25 to the water discharge part housing 201 by a screw may befurther formed on the other side of the water discharge nozzle 25. Thewater discharge nozzle 25 may open vertically so as to be molded easily,and a nozzle cap 254 may be mounted on the opened upper surface of thewater discharge nozzle 25.

A lighting hole 2012 may be further formed on the bottom surface of thewater discharge part housing 201. The lighting hole 2012 may allow lightemitted from a lighting unit or lighting module 28 provided in the innerside of the water discharge part housing 201 to be transmitted toward alower portion. A fixing projection 2013 in which the lighting unit 28 isfixed and mounted may be further formed on the bottom of the waterdischarge part housing 201 adjacent to the lighting hole 2012.

The lighting unit 28 may emit light toward the lower portion of thewater discharge part 20 to see the water extraction state or check theamount of water filled in a cup when operating the take-out button 41,and it may include a light housing 281 and a light PCB 282. An uppersurface of the light housing 281 may be opened, and the light housing281 may be formed so that the light PCB 282 may be mounted in theinside. A housing coupling part 2811 extended to the outer side may beformed on the rear end of the light housing 281, and the housingcoupling part 2811 may engage with the fixing projection 2013 and allowthe light housing 281 to be fixed and mounted at an accurate position.

A transmitting part 2812 which is able to transmit light on a locationcorresponding to the lighting hole 2012 may be formed on the lighthousing 281. The transmitting part 2812 may be configured such that apart of the light housing 281 is opened and then a transparent member ismounted on the opened position, and the light housing 281 may be formedtransparently by itself. The transmitting part 2812 may protrude fromthe light housing 281 and may be inserted into the lighting hole 2012.Therefore, the transmitting part 2812 may allow the light housing 281 tobe mounted on the accurate position with the housing coupling part 2811.

A light guide 2814 may extend along a circumference of the transmittingpart 2812, and the light guide 2814 guides the light of an LED 2821mounted on the light PCB 282 to be emitted outside through the lightinghole 2012. A PCB supporting part 2813 for supporting the light PCB 282may extend on the center of the light housing 281. The light PCB 282 maybe seated on the PCB supporting part 2813 and a screw may penetrate thelight PCB 282 and be fastened to the PCB supporting part 2813, and thusthe light PCB 282 may be fixed.

The light PCB 282 may shield the opened upper surface of the lighthousing 281, and may be mounted on the PCB supporting part 2813. The LED2821 may be mounted on the light PCB 282, and when the light PCB 282 ismounted, the LED 2821 may be positioned on the location corresponding tothe light guide 2814.

The water discharge part cover 202 may be seated on the upper end of thewater discharge part housing 201 and form the upper surface of the waterdischarge part 20. A cover coupling part 2021 extending downward may beformed on both side ends of the water discharge part cover 202. Thecover coupling part 2021 may be coupled with a coupling projection 2014protruding from an inner side wall surface of the light housing 281, andit may maintain a state in which the water discharge part cover 202 iscoupled to the water discharge part housing 201.

As shown in FIG. 20, the heating and control module 50 may be configuredby coupling of the induction heating assembly 70 and the controlassembly 80. The induction heating assembly 70 and the control assembly80 may be coupled in one module state, and as shown in FIG. 2, they maybe fixed and mounted on the support plate 35. The heating and controlmodule 50 may be provided in a space between the filter bracket 30 andthe cooling tank 60, and positioned between the top cover 14 and thesupport plate 35.

The induction heating assembly 70 may allow purified water to be heatedby an induction heating method. An exterior appearance of the inductionheating assembly 70 may be formed by a heating bracket 73 coupled to thecontrol assembly 80, and each configuration of the induction heatingassembly 70 including the hot water tank 71 and a working coil 72 may beaccommodated in the inner side of the heating bracket 73.

The control assembly 80 may control the overall operation of the waterpurifier 1, and may be configured so that a main PCB 82 for controllingthe compressor 51 and various valves, an induction heating PCB 84 forcontrolling the induction heating assembly 70, and a power supply PCB 86for supplying power and an NFC PCB 88 are mounted respectively. Anexterior appearance of the control assembly 80 may be formed by a firstcontrol cover 83 shielding a control base 81 and a front surface of thecontrol base 81, a second control cover 85 shielding a rear surface, anda third control cover 87 shielding side surfaces.

As shown in FIGS. 21-23, the induction heating assembly 70 may receivepurified water passing through the filter 34 and heat it into hot water,and may be configured to heat in the induction heating method. Theinduction heating assembly 70 may include the hot water tank 71 in whichthe purified water passes through, the working coil 72 for heating thewater passing through the hot water tank 71 and the heating bracket 73in which the working coil 72 and the hot water tank 71 are mounted.

The heating bracket 73 may provide a mounting space of the hot watertank 71, the working coil 72 and a ferrite core 74. The heating bracket73 may be formed of a resin material which is not deformed or damaged inhot temperature.

A bracket coupling part 731 which is for coupling with the controlassembly 80 may be formed on the edge of the heating bracket 73. Aplurality of bracket coupling parts 731 may be formed, and an extendedend part of the bracket coupling part 731 may be formed in a differentshape and it may formed to have a directionality. Therefore, theinduction heating assembly 70 may have a structure that is respectivelycombined with the control assembly 80, and thus the induction heatingassembly 70 may be mounted on the accurate position. An edge 732 havinga predetermined width along the periphery of the heating bracket 73 maybe formed, and may form a space in which the hot water tank 71 and theworking coil 72 may be respectively accommodated on both surfaces of theheating bracket 73.

A bracket depression part 733 for mounting the temperature sensorbracket 74 may be further formed on the center of one surface of theheating bracket 73 in which the hot water tank 71 is mounted. Thebracket depression part 733 may be depressed in a corresponding shape sothat the temperature sensor bracket 74 may be pressed. An opening 7331in which a wire connected to a tank temperature sensor 741 and a fuse742 is accessed may be formed on the center of the bracket depressionpart 733.

The tank temperature sensor 741 measuring the temperature of the hotwater tank 71 may be mounted on the temperature sensor bracket 74. Asthe tank temperature sensor 741 measures the temperature of a center ofhot water tank 71, temperature judgment of the hot water may be possiblewithout directly measuring the hot water temperature inside the hotwater tank 71. Therefore, the temperature of hot water taken out may bemaintained in a proper range by the tank temperature sensor 741. Thetank temperature sensor 741 may determine whether to additionally heator stop heating by the temperature detected from the tank temperaturesensor 741.

The fuse 742 may be mounted on the temperature sensor bracket 74. Thefuse 742 may block the power of the induction heating assembly 70 whenthe water in the hot water tank 71 is heated too much.

A sensor mounting groove 743 in which the tank temperature sensor 741 ismounted may be formed on a rear surface of the temperature sensorbracket 74 (right side surface in FIG. 23) in contact with the hot watertank 71. Therefore, the tank temperature sensor 741 may be in contactwith the hot water tank 71 and may effectively measure the surfacetemperature of the hot water tank 71. A fuse mounting groove 744 inwhich the fuse 742 is mounted may be formed on a front surface of thetemperature sensor bracket 74. A fuse mounting projection 7332 may beformed on the bracket depression part 733 corresponding to the fusemounting groove 744, and thus the fuse 742 may be fixed by the mountingof the temperature sensor bracket 74.

The working coil 72 may be provided on a front surface of the heatingbracket 73. The working coil 72 may form a magnetic field line causingthe heating of the hot water tank 71. When an electric current issupplied to the working coil 72, the magnetic field line may be formedon the working coil 72, and the magnetic field line may affect the hotwater tank 71, and thus the hot water tank 71 may be heated by beinginfluenced by the magnetic field line.

The working coil 72 may be provided on the front surface of the heatingbracket 73, and face a side surface formed in a planar shape of bothsurfaces of the hot water tank 71. The working coil 72 may includeseveral strands of copper or other conductor wire and the strands may beisolated. The working coil 72 may form a magnetic field or magneticfield line by a current applied to the working coil 72.

Therefore, a front surface of the hot water tank 71 facing the workingcoil 72 may generate the heat influenced by the magnetic field lineformed by the working coil 72. In FIG. 23, the stands of the workingcoil 72 are not described in detail, and thus only the overall outlineof the working coil 72 formed by each strand being wound to the outerside of the bracket depression part 733 is described.

A mica sheet 75 may be provided on the front surface and rear surface ofthe working coil 72. The mica sheet 75 may correspond to the frontsurface and rear surface shape of the working coil 72, and shield theoverall front surface and rear surface of the working coil 72.

The mica sheet 75 may have a predetermined thickness. Therefore, the hotwater tank 71 and the ferrite core 74 and working coil 72 may maintain acertain distance and thus the hot water tank 71 may be effectivelyheated by the magnetic field line formed by the working coil 72. Themica sheet 75 may be only provided on any one side surface of the frontsurface and the rear surface of the working coil 72 as needed.

The ferrite core 74 may be provided on the front surface of the micasheet 75. The ferrite core 74 may inhibit loss of a current, and performthe shield of the magnetic field line. The working coil 72 may include aplurality of ferrite cores 74 and the plurality of ferrite cores 74 maybe disposed in a radial shape based on the central part of the workingcoil 72.

In order to fix the ferrite core 74, core fixing parts 734 and 735 maybe formed on the heating bracket 73. The core fixing parts 734 and 735may include an inner side fixing part 734 and an outer side fixing part735, and may be formed to protrude from a position corresponding to aposition in which the ferrite core 74 is disposed. The inner side fixingpart 734 may support a surface close to the rotation center of theworking coil 72 of the circumferential surface of the ferrite core 74,and the outer side fixing part 735 may be positioned on the surfacefacing the inner side fixing part 734 and support one side of thecircumferential surface of the ferrite core 74. The core fixing parts734 and 735 may be radially formed in plural like an arrangement of theferrite core 74.

The hot water tank 71 may be mounted on the rear surface of the heatingbracket 73. The hot water tank 71 may generate heat by being influencedby the magnetic field line formed by the working coil 72. Therefore, thepurified water may be heated while passing through the internal space ofthe hot water tank 71 and become hot water.

The overall shape of the hot water tank 71 may be a flat and compactshape. The hot water tank 71 may correspond to the overall shape of theinduction heating assembly 70, and thus the induction heating assembly70 may be accommodated in a space between the filter bracket 30 and thecooling tank 60 in the water purifier 1. The hot water tank 71 may havea wide area, and it may sufficiently secure the heating area, and thusinstant heating may be possible.

The hot water tank 71 may be formed such that a circumference of aflat-shaped first cover 711 and a circumference of a second cover 712having an irregular shape contact each other. An output pipe 713 inwhich the heated water is discharged may be formed on the upper end ofthe hot water tank 71, and an input pipe 714 in which water for heatingis supplied may be formed on a lower end of the hot water tank 71. Theoutput pipe 713 may extend toward a side portion to have an upwardslope, and the input pipe 714 may extend toward the side portion to havea downward slope. Therefore, a connection space of the pipe connected tothe hot water tank 71 may be secured and the flow of water may befacilitated.

A T connector 715 may be connected to the output pipe 713. The hot waterpipe 265 connected to the hot water discharge valve 369 may be connectedto one side of the T connector 715 facing the output pipe 713. A safetyvalve 716 may be provided on the other side of the T connector 715, inother words in a cross direction with the output pipe 713, that is adirection facing toward the bottom surface of the water purifier 1.

The safety valve 716 may discharge steam generated when the hot water isheated in the hot water tank 71, and prevent the pressure in the hotwater tank 71 from being extremely increased due to the steam. Thesafety valve 716 may be opened at a set pressure, and it may havevarious structures so as to smoothly discharge the steam of the insideof the hot water tank 71.

An outlet of the safety valve 716 may be directed toward the bottomsurface of the water purifier 1, and a silicone hose and an additionalsteam pipe 7161 may be connected to the outlet of the safety valve 716.The steam pipe 7161 connected to the safety valve 716 may extend to theoutside of the water purifier 1 along the base 13. Therefore, when thewater purifier 1 is installed, the steam pipe 7161 may allow the steamor water generated by the steam to be discharged by taking out to aseparate barrel which is able to sink or drain.

A T connector 717 may also be connected to the input pipe 714, and anend cap 7171 may be provided on one side of the T connector 717, andshield the opening of one side of the T connector 717. A check valve 718may be provided on one side opened toward a lower portion of the Tconnector 717. The check valve 718 may supply purified water to theinput pipe 714, and may be opened in a supply direction. Therefore, inthe case in which the end cap 7171 is removed when the check valve 718is closed, the water of the inside of the hot water tank 71 may bedischarged through the input pipe 714.

The water purifier 1 may fill the water in the hot water tank 71 andcheck the heating performance before shipment. After completing thistest, the water purifier 1 may be shipped while the water inside the hotwater tank 71 is completely drained.

Therefore, the end cap 7171 is opened to completely remove the waterinside the hot water tank 71 at the time of shipment after the test ofthe hot water tank 71. The check valve 718 may be closed and the end cap7171 may have a structure shielding an opening of the T connector 717connected to the input pipe 714 at the lower end of the hot water tank71. Due to such a structural feature, the water inside the hot watertank 71 may be completely discharged by its own weight when the end cap7171 is opened. The end cap 7171 may be configured as a valve capable ofopening and closing, not as a structure of a simple cap, and it mayremove the water inside the hot water tank 71 by the operation of valve.

As shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, the hot water tank 71 may be formed by anedge of the first cover 711 and an edge of the second cover 712 beingcoupled each other. The edge of the first cover 711 and the edge of thesecond cover 712 may be coupled to each other to maintain airtightnessby welding or the like.

The first cover 711 may have a flat shape so as to generate heat bybeing influenced by the magnetic field line formed by the working coil72. The first cover 711 may be formed of an appropriate material forheating. The first cover 711 may be composed of a stainless material,and preferably, it may be composed of a 4 series stainless material.More preferably, the first cover 711 may be made of STS (stainlesssteel) 439 materials.

The second cover 712 may be provided on the opposite side of the workingcoil 72 based on the first cover 711, and since the second cover 712 isless influenced by the magnetic field line, the relevance with the heatgeneration is smaller than the first cover 711. Therefore, the secondcover 712 may be preferably made of a material having corrosionresistance properties rather than the heating feature. The output pipe713 and the input pipe 714 may be provided on the center of the upperend and lower end of the second cover 712. The output pipe 713 and theinput pipe 714 may extend toward the opposite direction to each other.

The second cover 712 may include a base surface 7121 and a projectionpart 7122. The base surface 7121 and the projection part 7122 may beformed integrally by press processing. When partially press processingthe second cover 712 having the base surface 7121, the projection part7122 may be molded on the second cover 712.

The base surface 7121 may face the first cover 711 at a position spacedapart from the first cover 711, and may be spaced apart from the firstcover 711 so as to form an internal space of the hot water tank 71. Theprojection part 7122 may protrude toward the first cover 711 from thebase surface 7121, and when the first cover 711 and the second cover 712are joined, the projection part 7122 may in contact with the first cover711 or positioned at a position adjacent to the first cover 711. Thecircumference of the projection part 7122 may be obliquely formed.

The projection part 7122 may be positioned between the input pipe 714and the output pipe 713, and may be formed in plurality and introducedinto the input pipe 714 and disperse the flow of water discharged to theoutput pipe 713, thereby making duration of staying inside the hot watertank 71 longer. The projection part 7122 may include a horizontalprojection 7124 and a vertical projection 7123. The vertical projection7123 may extend in a same direction with the up and down lengthdirection of the hot water tank 71. The horizontal projection 7124 maybe formed on both end parts of the vertical projection 7123 and extendedto have a predetermined length.

A plurality of projection parts 7122 may be provided at predeterminedintervals, preferably one is formed on a center and the same number ofmultiple projection parts may be formed on both sides. In the embodimentof the present disclosure, although described as an example that threesare formed, but there is no restriction on the number.

Water introduced into the input pipe 714 may be dispersed by collidingwith the lower horizontal projection 7124, dispersed again by collidingwith the upper horizontal projection 7124 after being flowed along thevertical projection 7123, and then discharged to the output pipe 713.This operation may occur at the plurality of projection parts 7122 atthe same time.

Water flowing in the hot water tank 71 may be dispersed and remainlonger in the hot water tank 71 and thus it may be further heated. Thewater may be evenly spread in the overall inside of the hot water tank71 and thus, effective heating of water is possible.

A welding part 7125 may be formed on at least one of the plurality ofprojection parts 7122. The welding part 7125 may protrude toward thefirst cover 711 like the projection part 7122. A position of the weldingpart 7125 may be formed on the central part of the hot water tank 71.The welding part 7125 and the first cover 711 may be connected to eachother by welding.

Other projection parts 7122 except the welding part 7125 may not becoupled with the first cover 711 by welding, but simply contacted oradjacent to the first cover 711, whereas the welding part 7125 may becoupled with the first cover 711. Therefore, the hot water tank 71 maynot be deformed or damaged even if the pressure of the inside of the hotwater tank 71 generated when the hot water is heated is increased, andthe first cover 711 and the second cover 712 maintain their shape and astable coupling state may be maintained.

As shown in FIGS. 26 and 27, the exterior appearance of the controlassembly 80 may be formed by the first control cover 83 shielding thecontrol base 81 and the front surface of the control base 81, the secondcontrol cover 85 shielding the rear surface, and the third control cover87 shielding the side surface. The control base 81 may provide a spacein which the main PCB 82 constituting the control assembly 80, theinduction heating PCB 84, the power supply PCB 86 and the NFC PCB 88 maybe mounted.

A first mounting surface 811 in which the main PCB 82 is mounted may beformed on the rear surface of the control base 81 (right side surface inFIG. 27). The main PCB 82 may control the overall operation of the watersupply device like the water purifier 1. For example, the main PCB 82may control the drive of the plurality of valves including thecompressor 51 and the cooling fan 53.

The first control cover 83 may be provided on the first mounting surface811 of the control base 81 in which the main PCB 82 is mounted. The mainPCB 82 may be provided in a space formed by coupling of the firstmounting surface 811 and the first control cover 83.

A second mounting surface 812 in which the induction heating PCB 84 ismounted may be formed on the front surface of the control base 81 (leftside surface in FIG. 27). The induction heating PCB 84 may control theinduction heating operation of the working coil 72. For example, theinduction heating PCB 84 may control a current to flow to the workingcoil 72, and the hot water tank 71 may be heated by the current suppliedto the working coil 72 and thus the hot water may be heated.

The second control cover 85 may be provided on the second mountingsurface 812 of the control base 81 in which the induction heating PCB 84is mounted. The induction heating PCB 84 may be provided in a spaceformed by the coupling of the second mounting surface 812 and the secondcontrol cover 85.

The induction heating PCB 84 consumes a lot of power and accordingly,high temperature heating may be generated. In order to cool theinduction heating PCB 84, a heat radiating member 841 may be provided inthe induction heating PCB 84. An heat radiating port 851 may be formedat a position corresponding to the heat radiating member 841 in thesecond control cover 85.

A coupling boss 852 coupling with the bracket coupling part 731 of theinduction heating assembly 70 may be further formed in the secondcontrol cover 85. The coupling boss 852 may be formed and extended in apredetermined length from a position corresponding to the bracketcoupling part 731 and coupled with the bracket coupling part 731. Thecoupling boss 852 may extend to a predetermined length and maintain astate in which the induction heating assembly 70 and the second controlcover 85 are spaced a part at a certain distance. Therefore, the controlassembly 80 may be prevented from being malfunctioned or damaged by thehigh temperature hot water tank 71 or the induction heating assembly 70.

The second mounting surface 812 may form some area of the overall frontsurface of the control base 81. A cable fixing part 813 may be furtherformed on the upper portion of the second mounting surface 812 of thefront surface of the control base 81. The cable fixing part 813 may beformed by a pair of projections in a ring shape protruding frontward,and wires connected to the plurality of PCBs may pass between the pairof projections so that the cable fixing part 813 can be fixed.

A third mounting surface 814 may be formed on a side portion of thesecond mounting surface 812. The third mounting surface 814 may providea space in which the power supply PCB 86 is mounted, and it may beextended and formed to vertically cross the front surface of the controlbase 81.

The power supply PCB 86 may supply power to the induction heating PCB84. Since an output voltage for induction heating is very high, asufficient voltage should be supplied. Therefore, a separate powersupply PCB 86 may be further provided so as to satisfy the outputvoltage for the induction heating by supplying the separate power to theinduction heating PCB 84. The power supply PCB 86 may supply power notonly to the induction heating PCB 84, but also to the main PCB 82 and itmay provide an auxiliary power to other configurations.

The third control cover 87 may be provided on the third mounting surface814 of the control base 81 in which the power supply PCB 86 is mounted.The power supply PCB 86 may be provide in the space formed by thecoupling of the third mounting surface 814 and the third control cover87.

A fourth mounting surface 815 may be formed on the upper end of thecontrol base 81. The fourth mounting surface 815 may extend in afront-rear direction and form a space in which the NFC PCB 88 may bemounted.

The NFC PCB 88 may send and receive data with devices such as a mobilephone. Usage information, operation or status information of the waterpurifier 1 may be transmitted to the user's mobile phone through the NFCPCB 88, and setting of the water purifier 1 may be operated by using themobile phone.

The usage of purified water, cold and hot water may be transmitted tothe mobile phone through the NFC PCB 88, and daily, weekly or monthlyusage may be transferred. The replacement period of the filter 34 or theinformation such as the temperature of cold water and hot water istransferred and the user may check through the mobile phone.

The user may set the temperature of cold water through a mobile phone,and the amount of water taken out at one time may be set. By groupingthe settings of the water purifier 1, those may be automaticallyexecuted only by an operation bringing the mobile phone to a specificposition of the top cover 14 adjacent to the NFC PCB 88. A communicationconnectable position with the NFC PCB 88 may be displayed on the topcover 14, and the user may communicate with the NFC PCB 88 by puttingthe mobile phone on the corresponding position.

The control assembly 80 may include various options according to themodel of the water purifier 1. The control base 81 and the main PCB 82may be used as is, but in the case of only using the purified water andcold water functions, the induction heating PCB 84 and the power supplyPCB 86 may be omitted. In a model from which the NFC function isomitted, the NFC PCB 88 may be omitted.

Like this, the water purifier 1 may have a structure disposing PCBs permodule on the one control base 81. Therefore, according to the option ofthe water purifier 1, a PCB having a corresponding function may bemounted on the set position of the control base 81. Therefore, the spacestructure inside the water purifier 1 may be shared, and various optionsmay be selected without changing the design of the existingconfiguration.

As shown in FIGS. 28-30, the cooling tank 60 may be provided on the rearportion of the heating and control module 50, and a lower end may beinserted and mounted in the condenser bracket 54. The exteriorappearance of the cooling tank 60 may be formed overall by a tank body61 and a tank cover 62 covering an opened upper surface of the tank body61.

The tank body 61 may include an inner case 611 forming a space in whichcooling water is filled inside and an insulation body 612 formed on theouter part of the inner case 611. The inner case 611 may be injectionmolded with a resin material, and the insulation body 612 may be formedby foaming a foaming liquid to the outer side of the inner case 611. Thetank cover 62 may shield an opening of the tank body 61 from above, andmay be configured of an inner cover 621 formed of an injection materialand an insulation cover 622 covering the outer side of the inner cover621.

The exterior appearance of the tank cover 62 may be formed by insulators612 and 622 like the exterior appearance of the tank body 61. Theevaporator 63 may be inserted through the tank cover 62, and a pipe ofthe evaporator 63 connected to the outer side of the tank cover 62 maybe insulated by covering with an insulation material such as a PE(Polyethylene) foam 631. A part of a capillary pipe 55 used as aexpansion device may be fixed to be covered with the pipe of theevaporator 63.

A cold water temperature sensor 601 may be provided in the cooling tank60. A temperature of cooling water measured by the cold watertemperature sensor 601 may become a basis for determining the operationof the refrigerating cycle.

When the temperature of the cooling water measured by the cold watertemperature sensor 601 is higher than a first standard temperature, therefrigerating cycle of the water purifier 1 may be operated to lower thetemperature of the cooling water. Cooling water stored in the inner case611 may be cooled by a refrigerant passing through the evaporator 63.

In the case in which the temperature of the cooling water measured bythe cold water temperature sensor 601 is lower than a second standardtemperature, the refrigerating cycle may be stopped. The second standardtemperature may be lower than the first standard temperature. Each ofthe first standard temperature and the second standard temperature maybecome a base for operation and suspension of the refrigerating cycle.Therefore, the temperature of the cooling water stored in the inner case611 may be maintained between the first standard temperature and thesecond standard temperature by temperature measurement by the cold watertemperature sensor 601 and operation of the refrigerating cycle.

A cooling coil 64 may be accommodated in the internal space of the innercase 611. The cooling coil 64 may be a flow path in which purified wateris passing through. The cooling coil 64 may be installed in the innercase 611 and submerged in the cooling water. The purified water passingthrough the cooling coil 64 may be heat exchanged with the coolingwater. Therefore, the heat of the purified water passing through thecooling coil 64 may be transmitted to the cooling water, and thepurified water may become cold water in a short time by heat exchangewith the cooling water. In order to promote the heat exchange, thecooling coil 64 may be formed of a metal material such as stainlesssteel. An inlet part 641 and an outlet part 642 of the cooling coil 64may penetrate the tank cover 62 and may be exposed to the outside of thecooling tank 60.

A coil supporting part 6111 supporting the cooling coil 64 may beprovided on the bottom surface of the inner case 611. The coilsupporting part 6111 may protrude toward the cooling coil 64 from theinternal bottom surface of the inner case 611. The coil supporting part6111 may have a groove 6112 having a size corresponding to an outercircumferential surface of the cooling coil 64. The cooling coil 64 maybe mounted on the groove 6112 of the coil supporting part 6111, and maybe supported by the coil supporting part 6111. Therefore, the coolingcoil 64 may be spaced apart from the bottom surface of the inner case611, and the cooling water may flow through a space between the lowerend of the cooling coil 64 and the bottom of the inner case 611, andthus a circulation of the cooling water is smoothly done, and thecooling efficiency of the purified water of the inside of the coolingcoil 64 may be improved.

A mesh member 65 may be provided in the inner case 611. The mesh member65 may be positioned between the evaporator 63 and the cooling coil 64.The evaporator 63 may be inserted into the inner side of the inner case611 and it may be wound in a shape like a coil and positioned furtherupward than the cooling coil 64. The mesh member 65 may be positionedbetween the evaporator 63 and the cooling coil 64, support theevaporator 63, and may have a structure seated on the upper end of thecooling coil 64.

A gasket 66 for airtightness between the tank body 61 and the tank cover62 may be provided on the upper end of the inner case 611. A plugmounting part (or plug mount) 6211 in which a plug 623 is mounted and amotor mounting part (or motor mount) 6212 in which a motor 67 foroperating an agitator 68 is mounted may be formed on the inner cover 621forming a lower surface of the tank cover 62.

The plug 623 may form a part in which the pipe and wire of theevaporator 63 are accessed, and may prevent the direct contact of thepipe of the evaporator 63 and the inner cover 621 and maintain theairtightness. The plug 623 may be formed of friable material such as arubber or silicone so that the bent pipe or wire of the evaporator 63 isnot damaged in the process of accessing the tank cover 62.

The motor 67 may be mounted on the motor mounting part 6212 opened on atthe center of the inner cover 621. A rotation shaft of the motor 67 mayface downward so that the agitator 68 may be coupled to the lowerportion of the motor 67.

The agitator 68 may be rotated by the motor 67, extended downward, andconfigured to sink in the cooling water. The agitator 68 may be extendedso that the lower end is positioned further lower than the upper end ofthe cooling coil 64. Therefore, when the water is forced to be flowed bythe agitator 68, the cooling water and the purified water inside thecooling coil 64 may be actively heat exchanged.

A plurality of blades 681 may be formed in the agitator 68, and theplurality of blades 681 may be formed so that the width becomes widertoward the lower portion, and especially, may have a shape protrudingtoward a side portion from the lower end of each of the blades 681. Alower portion of each of the blades 681 may be inclined in onedirection. Therefore, when the agitator 68 is rotated, water of theinner case 611 may be forced to be flowed downward, and a circulationmay be actively made in the inner part of the inner case 611. The blades681 may penetrate the mesh member 65 and when the blades 681 are driven,the cooling water may be circulated through the mesh member 65.

As shown in FIGS. 31 and 32, a mesh member 65 may be injection moldedand formed of a plastic material, and may include a partitioning part651 crossing the inner part of the inner case 611 and an extending part652 extended upward along an agitator hole 6511 of a center of thepartitioning part 651. All of the partitioning part 651 and theextending part 652 may be formed in a mesh member 65 shape and formed sothat the cooling water may smoothly flow through a plurality of holes.

A shape of the partitioning part 651 may correspond to a cross-sectionshape of the inner case 611 so that the partitioning part 651 maypartition the inside of the inner case 611 when the mesh member 65 ismounted. A plurality of partitioning projections 6512 may protrude tothe outer side of the circumference of the partitioning part 651.

A step 6113 and a projection 6114 may be formed on the inner sidesurface of the inner case 611. When the mesh member 65 is mounted, thepartitioning part 651 or the partitioning projection 6512 may be mountedbetween the step 6113 and the projection 6114, and the mesh member 65may maintain a fixed position on the inner side of the inner case 611.

A lower portion supporting part 6513 may be formed on the lower surfaceof the partitioning part 651. The lower portion supporting part 6513 mayaccommodate the upper end of the cooling coil 64, and may extenddownward, and a groove 6514 in which the cooling coil 64 may be insertedmay be formed in the lower portion supporting part 6513. A plurality oflower portion supporting parts 6513 may be formed, and positioned toface each other or cross each other, so that when the mesh member 65 ismounted, they prevent the movement of an upper portion of the coolingcoil 64 while preventing the mesh member 65 from being inclined, at thesame time.

An upper portion supporting part 6521 may be formed on the upper surfaceof the partitioning part 651. The upper portion supporting part 6521 mayaccommodate a lower end of the evaporator 63 wound in a coil shape,extend upward, and a groove 6522 in which the evaporator 63 may beinserted may be formed on the upper portion supporting part 6521. Theupper portion supporting part 6521 may extend in an outer side directionfrom the extending part 652, and it may extend upward from the sameposition of the lower portion supporting part 6513. The evaporator 63may be seated on a correct position by the upper portion supporting part6521, and may maintain a stable mounting state without moving in theinner side of the inner case 611.

A coil guiding part recessed to an inner side so that an inlet part 6516and an outlet part 6517 of the cooling coil 64 are to be positioned maybe formed on one side of the circumference of the partitioning part 651.A guide projection 6515 protruding to the outer side may be formed onthe coil guiding part. Therefore, the inlet part 6516 of the coolingcoil 64 may be positioned on one side based on the guide projection6515, and the outlet part 6517 of the cooling coil 64 may be positionedon the other side. A guiding groove 6518 may be formed on one side ofthe coil guiding part. The guiding groove 6518 may be formed so that abent part of the cooling coil 64 connected to the inlet part 6516 of thecooling coil 64 may pass through.

A fixing hook 6519 extending upward may be formed on one side of theupper surface of the partitioning part 651. The fixing hook 6519 mayrestrict the evaporator 63. The fixing hook 6519 may extend upward fromthe outer side of the wound part of the evaporator 63, and an upper endof the fixing hook 6519 may press and restrict the uppermost end of thewound part of the evaporator 63. Therefore, the evaporator 63 may befixed in the inner case 611, and thus a noise or damage caused by themovement may no longer be generated.

The extending part 652 may be formed along the agitator hole 6511 of thecenter of the partitioning part 651, and formed so that the agitator 68may penetrate the internal space of the extending part 652. Theextending part 652 may be extended from the partitioning part 651 to themotor 67. Since a plurality of ribs 6523 extending up and down may bespaced apart sequentially, the extending part 652 may pass the coolingwater but block foreign substances.

Therefore, an internal space of the inner case 611 may be partitionedinto a part in which the evaporator 63 is positioned and a lower portionarea of the evaporator 63, in other words, an area in which the coolingcoil 64 is positioned by the extending part 652. The wound evaporator 63may be positioned on the outer side of the extending part 652, and theblade 681 may be positioned on the inner side of the extending part 652.

In a process in which the refrigerating cycle is driven to cool thecooling water, frost around the evaporator 63 may be generated by arefrigerant passing through the evaporator 63, and in the process of thecirculation of the cooling water by rotation of the agitator 68, some ofice frozen in the evaporator 63 may come off. However, the ice aroundthe evaporator 63 cannot pass through the mesh member 65 and may beblocked by the mesh member 65. The ice around the evaporator 63 may beprevented from colliding with the agitator 68. Therefore, the agitator68 may be prevented from being damaged, and a noise generated by a crashof the ice may be prevented. The ice may be prevented from flowing andcolliding with the cooling coil 64, and it may be prevented fromcirculating and flowing in the inner case 611 with the cooling water bythe mesh member 65.

A drain valve 69 draining the cooling water may be provided on the lowerend of the cooling tank 60. The drain valve 69 may replace the coolingwater stored in the inner case 611 periodically. A drain part 6115 atleast a part of which is formed to be inclined or depressed may beformed on the lower surface of the inner case 611. The drain part 6115may communicate with the drain valve 69 and allow the cooling water ofthe inside of the cooling tank 60 to be drained smoothly.

The drain valve 69 may be connected to the inner case 611. The drainvalve 69 may protrude from the inner case 611 so as to form a drain flowpath of the cooling water filled in the inner case 611.

A drain flow path part 6116 may be formed to protrude on the lowerportion of the inner case 611, and the drain flow path part 6116 may beconnected to the drain valve 69. Since the drain valve 69 is configuredto discharge the cooling water to the outside of the water purifier 1,when the drain flow path part 6116 is inserted into the drain valve 69,a flow path in which the cooling water stored in the inner case 611 maybe drained may be formed. The drain valve 69 may be fixed by a valvefixing part 6117. Detailed description of the drain valve 69 and thevalve fixing part 6117 will be described below.

The drain valve 69 may be buried by the insulation body 612 to be fixed,and the end part of the drain valve 69 may be exposed to the outer sideof the insulation body 612, and thus may be connected from the outside.Therefore, the drain valve 69 may be insulated and prevents dew frombeing formed on the outer circumferential surface of the drain valve 69.

As shown in FIGS. 33-35, the inner case 611 may include the valve fixingpart 6117 to fix the position of the drain valve 69. The valve fixingpart 6117 may cover at least a part of the drain valve 69. The valvefixing part 6117 may correspond to an exterior appearance of the drainvalve 69.

A sealing member 691 may be provided in the inner side of the valvefixing part 6117. The sealing member 691 may cover a connection part ofthe inner case 611 and the drain valve 69. The sealing member 691 mayconnect and seal the inner case 611 and the drain valve 69. Therefore,the sealing member 691 may prevent the cooling water from being leakedthrough a crack formed on the connecting part of the inner case 611 andthe drain valve 69.

The drain valve 69 may include a valve housing 692, a valve sheet 694,an elastic member 695, a first O-ring 693, and a second O-ring 696. Thevalve housing 692 may form an exterior of the drain valve 69. The valvehousing 692 may have a hollow part. The hollow part may be a drain flowpath draining the cooling water and a space accommodating the valvesheet 694, the elastic member 695, and the like.

The valve housing 692 may be formed by coupling of a first housing 6921and a second housing 6922. The valve sheet 694 may be disposed in thevalve housing 692. The valve sheet 694 may register the pressingoperation from the user. The pressing operation of the user may open andclose the drain flow path of the drain valve 69. The drain flow path maybe opened to drain the cooling water, but it may be opened so as to fillthe cooling water while the cooling water is completely drained.

The first O-ring 693 may seal between the valve sheet 694 and the firsthousing 6921. The first O-ring 693 may be coupled to the valve sheet 694and in close contact with the housing by an elastic force provided bythe elastic member 695. The elastic member 695 may provide an elasticforce contacting the valve sheet 694 to the first housing 6921. Theelastic member 695 may be supported by the second housing 6922.

The second O-ring 696 may seal the connection part of the first housing6921 and the second housing 6922. The second O-ring 696 may be made of amaterial having elasticity.

As shown in FIGS. 36 and 37, the base 13 may form the bottom surface ofthe water purifier 1. The base 13 may be formed so that thecircumference is extended upward and coupled with the side panel 15, thefront cover 11, and the rear cover 12.

A leg 131 protruding downward may be formed on the base 13. A pluralityof legs 131 may be formed on the base 13, and they may be formed so thatthe overall lower surface of the base 13 is spaced apart from theground. Therefore, the suction of outdoor air through the lower surfaceof the base 13 may be done easily.

The rotation ring 91 may be rotatably mounted on the front portion ofthe base 13. The tray 90 may be detachably coupled to one side of thefront portion of the rotation ring 91 and connected to the rotation ring91 and may be rotated in a left-right side direction.

The front portion of the base 13 may be stepped further lower than therear portion of the base 13. An opening part may be formed between thefront portion of the base 13 and the lower end part of the lower cover112, and a side surface part of the tray 90 may be exposed to theoutside through the opening part, and may be rotated in the left-rightside direction while being coupled to the rotation ring 91.

The stepped part between the front portion and the rear portion of thebase 13 may become a stopper 1301 when the tray 90 is rotated. When thetray 90 is rotated, both side surfaces of the tray 90 may be in contactwith the stopper 1301, and the rotation of the tray 90 may berestricted.

A movement preventing part 1302 which prevents the tray 90 from movingup and down may be extended forward on the stopper 1301 of the base 13.The movement preventing part 1302 may restrain both sides of the rearend part of the tray 90 while the tray 90 is rotated.

A rotation guiding part 132 may be provided in the base 13. The rotationguiding part 132 may be configured of a first rotation guiding part 1321and a second rotation guiding part 1322 provided concentrically on thebase 13. The first rotation guiding part 1321 and the second rotationguiding part 1322 may protrude in a upward direction at a constantcurvature from the bottom surface of the base 13, and they may guiderotation of the rotation ring 91. The rotation guiding part 132 may beformed in a circular shape or may be formed in an arc shape.

The rotation ring 91 may be guided by the rotation guiding part 132 androtatably mounted about the base 13 and serve to support the tray 90.The rotation ring 91 may be formed of an outer side ring part 911, aninner side ring part 912 and a ring joint part 913.

The outer side ring part 911 may compose an external skeleton and shapeof the rotation ring 91. The outer side ring part 911 may have acircular shape, and a part of the outer side ring part 911 may be incontact with the outer side surface of the first rotation guiding part1321, and rotatably mounted along the first rotation guiding part 1321.

The inner side ring part 912 may be concentric to the outer side ringpart 911. The inner side ring part 912 may have a circular shape and inclose contact with the outer side surface of a part or another part ofthe second rotation guiding part 1322, and thus a movement of the innerside ring part 912 may be restricted in a front-rear direction of thewater purifier 1 and the base 13 and guided by the second rotationguiding part 1322 so that the inner side ring part 912 may be rotatablymounted in place.

A tray mounting part (or tray mount) 914 for coupling with the tray 90may be provided on one side of the outer side ring part 911. The traymounting part 914 may have an accommodating hole 9141 having a size andshape the same as those of a tray coupling part 96 of the tray 90. Theaccommodating hole 9141 may be opened in a direction facing the traycoupling part 96, and the tray coupling part 96 may be inserted andcoupled to the tray mounting part 914 through the accommodating hole9141.

When the tray coupling part 96 is coupled to be inserted into the traymounting part 914, the tray mounting part 914 may cover the traycoupling part 96 and may be in contact with the outer side surface ofthe tray coupling part 96 and support the tray coupling part 96 so thatthe tray coupling part 96 is not moved in up-down/left-right directions.However, the tray coupling part 96 may move in the front-rear directionfrom the inside of the tray mounting part 914 and thus it may beinserted and withdrawn.

A projection 9142 may be formed on the inner side of the tray mountingpart 914. A fastening groove 961 may be formed in the tray coupling part96, and when the tray coupling part 96 is inserted into the inner sideof the tray mounting part 914, the projection 9142 may be coupled withthe fastening groove 961 so as to maintain a state in which the tray 90is mounted on the rotation ring 91. When the tray 90 is mounted, thecoupling of the projection 9142 and the fastening groove 961 may berecognized easily. As the tray coupling part 96 is coupled to beinserted into the tray mounting part 914, the tray 90 may be coupled tothe rotation ring 91 and may be rotated in the left-right side directionabout the base 13.

A separation preventing projection 1323 may be formed in the secondrotation guiding part 1322, and prevent the rotation ring 91 from beingseparated from the second rotation guiding part 1322. An upper end partof the separation preventing projection 1323 may be configured in a hookshape so as to be hung on the upper surface of the inner side ring part912. Therefore, when the tray 90 is rotated, as the rotation ring 91 islifted in an upward direction, the rotation ring 91 may not be separatedfrom the second rotation guiding part 1322, and the rotation of the tray90 may be maintained stably.

A pressure reducing valve 133 may be provided on the center of the frontportion of the base 13. The pressure reducing valve 133 may adjust thepressure of water supplied from a water pipe and make the purificationoperation smooth and adjust the pressure when the water is taken out.The pressure reducing valve 133 may be positioned on the inner side areaof the inner side ring part 912 when the rotation ring 91 is mounted,and thus an efficient use of space is possible.

A mounting part (or compressor mount) 134 on which the compressor 51 maybe mounted is formed on the center part of the base 13. The mountingpart 134 may protrude upward so as to support the compressor 51. Fourmounting parts 134 may be provided and they may support the four edgesof the bottom surface of the compressor 51. A nut may be insert injectedinto the mounting part 134, and may be configured to fix the compressor51 by fastening a screw from the lower portion after the compressor 51is seated.

A suction grille 135 may be further formed on the center part of thebase 13. At least a part of the suction grille 135 may be positionedbetween the mounting parts 134, and it may be positioned below thecompressor 51. Therefore, air suctioned into the inner side of the waterpurifier 1 passes by the compressor 51 and may cool the compressor 51.The suction grille 135 may be formed in a grid shape, and prevent theentry of foreign substances by forming a plurality of suction ports.

The condenser bracket 54 in which the condenser 52 is accommodated maybe disposed on the lower portion of the suction grille 135. Thecondenser bracket 54 may be positioned on the rear portion of the base13. The condenser bracket 54 may include the condenser mounting part 541fixed to the base 13 and the tank mounting part 542 positioned above thecondenser mounting part 541.

The cooling fan 53 may be provided on the front surface of the condensermounting part 541. The compressor 51 and the condenser 52 may be cooledby sucking the outdoor air through the suction grille 135 by the coolingfan 53 and the air may be discharged to the discharge port 121. The rearsurface of the condenser mounting part 541 may be in contact with thedischarge port 121. Therefore, the condenser 52 accommodated in theinner side of the condenser mounting part 541 may be disposed at aposition adjacent to the discharge port 121 of the water purifier 1.

A cord mounting part (or cord mount) 1303 in which a power cord 136 isfixed may be formed on the rear end of the base 13. A cord guiding part1304 may be formed from the cord mounting part 1303 to a middle part ofthe base 13. Therefore, the power cord 136 may be moved along the cordguiding part 1304, and connected to the control assembly 80.

A water inflow pipe entrance 1305 in which a water inflow pipe 360 isintroduced may be formed on the rear end of the base 13, and the waterinflow pipe 360 connected with the water pipe may be introduced throughthe water inflow pipe entrance 1305. An end part of the water inflowpipe 360 may be extended to the pressure reducing valve 133. A tubeguide 3601 that prevents a folding of the water inflow pipe 360 may befurther formed at a section in which the water inflow pipe 360 is bent.The tube guide 3601 may be a plastic material and may guide the waterinflow pipe 360 not to be extremely bent or folded. Such a tube guide3601 may be further formed on a pipe in which purified water, cold waterand hot water are flowed.

As shown in FIGS. 38 and 39, the tray 90 may include a tray body 92having a storage space therein and a tray cover 93 detachably coupled tocover an upper portion of the tray body 92. The storage space may bedepressed downward in the tray body 92 and residual water may be storedtherein. The edge part of the tray body 92 may cover a side surface ofthe edge of the tray cover 93. A supporting part 921 supporting a lowersurface of the tray cover 93 may be provided in the tray body 92.

A depression part 922 may be formed on a bottom surface of the tray body92. The depression part 922 may protrude downward from the bottomsurface of the tray body 92, and may be in close contact with the groundin which the water purifier 1 is installed and support the bottomsurface of the tray 90. Therefore, when the tray 90 is rotated in aleft-right direction, it may be supported at a certain height withoutsagging from the ground in which the water purifier 1 is installed.

The depression part 922 may be formed the same as or larger than thesize of a floater 94 so that the floater 94 may be accommodated.Therefore, the floater 94 may be liftable depending on the water levelon the inner side of the depression part 922.

The floater 94 may include a floating part 941, an indicator 942 and acap 943. The floating part 941 may be a size that possible to beaccommodated in the inner side of the depression part 922, and it may beformed of a material which may float in the water by buoyancy.

The indicator 942 may be arranged on an upper end of the floating part941, and it may be fixed on the floating part 941 by the cap 943. Theindicator 942 may have a ring shape and it may be formed of a colordifferent from those of the floating part 941, the cap 943 and the traycover 93.

The cap 943 may form an upper end of the floater 94, and form a partexposed to the tray cover 93. The cap 943 may be formed of an exposepart 9431 exposed to the tray cover 93 and a penetrating part 9432extended downward from the expose part 9431. The expose part 9431 mayhave the same diameter as the indicator 942. The penetrating part 9432may be inserted into the upper end of the floater 94 through theindicator 942.

In a state in which a certain amount of water or more is not filled inthe tray 90, the upper surface of the cap 943 may be positioned on thesame plane with the upper surface of the tray cover 93 or positioned ata lower portion. When a certain amount of water or more is filled in thetray 90 or at a full water level, the floating part 941 may be risen bythe buoyancy, and also the cap 943 may protrude further than the uppersurface of the tray cover 93.

At this time, like FIG. 31, when the floating part 941 is completelyrisen, the indicator 942 may protrude further upward than the uppersurface of the tray cover 93. Therefore, the user may recognize the fullwater level when the color of the indicator 942 is distinguished, andthe stored water may be removed by separating the tray 90.

A recess part 923 may be concavely formed on the rear portion surface ofthe tray body 92 and the rear end of the tray cover 93 in an arc shape,and the recess part 923 may cover a part of the rotation ring 91 andallow the rear end of the tray 90 to be in close contact with therotation ring 91. A protrusion part 95 may protrude rearward from bothsides of the rear end of the tray body 92. An outer side surface of theprotrusion part 95 is may extend in a same plane from one side surfaceof the tray body 92, and it covers a connection part of the tray 90 andthe rotation ring 91.

Even when the tray 90 is rotated, an exterior may be formed in a shapeconnected from the front surface exterior of the water purifier 1 whichis roundly formed. Therefore, the exterior may be elegant regardless ofthe rotation of the tray 90.

For the coupling of the tray 90 and the rotation ring 91, the traycoupling part 96 may protrude rearward on the center of the recess part923 of the tray body 92. The tray coupling part 96 may be coupled bybeing inserted into the tray mounting part 914 when the tray 90 ismounted. A plurality of slits 931 may be formed on the tray cover 93,and the residual water may be introduced into the storage space of thetray body 92 through the slit 931, and may be prevented from beingsplashed to the outside from the inside of the tray body 92.

An indicating hole 932 may be formed on the tray cover 93. Theindicating hole may correspond to a position of the cap 943 of thefloater 94, and it may be the same size as the cap 943. Therefore, whenthe floater 94 is lifted, the cap 943 is moved up and down through theindicating hole 932. When the tray 90 is completely filled with water,the indicator 942 may be exposed to the outer side of the indicatinghole 932 and it may display the full water situation to the user.

A water collection hole 933 may be further formed on the tray cover 93.The water collection hole 933 may be opened vertically below the waterdischarge nozzle 25. Therefore, in a state in which a container such asa cup is not positioned on the tray 90, when water is taken out, thefalling water may be directly collected to the tray 90 through the watercollection hole 933.

As shown in FIGS. 40 and 41, the condenser mounting part 541 may beformed on the lower portion of the condenser bracket 54, and the tankmounting part 542 may be formed on the upper portion thereof. A bracketmounting part (or bracket mount) 1307 may be formed on the lower end ofthe condenser mounting part 541. The bracket mounting part 1307 may besupported on the base 13, and the condenser bracket 54 may be fixed byfastening a screw.

The front surface and the rear surface of the condenser mounting part541 may be opened and formed so as to accommodate the condenser 52therein. A condenser supporting part 5412 protruding upward may beformed on the internal bottom surface of the condenser mounting part541. The condenser 52 may be supported by the condenser supporting part5412, and may be spaced apart from the bottom of the condenser mountingpart 541 and may promote the heat exchange by facilitating the flow ofthe cooling air.

The condenser 52 may be configured such that a tube (or refrigeranttube) 521 in a plate shape is formed to be bent multiple times, and aheat exchange plate 522 formed to be bent sequentially may be disposedbetween the tubes 521 in the plate shape. A header 523 communicated withthe plurality of tubes 521 may be provided on both ends of the tube 521.A refrigerant pipe connected to the compressor 51 and the evaporator 63side may be accessed to the header 523, and a refrigerant may becirculated in the refrigerating cycle. Therefore, the condenser 52 maybe generally formed in a hexahedron shape and formed in a compact size,and thus may be accommodated in the condenser mounting part 541.

A fixing hole 5411 in which a fixing member (or fastener) 543 formounting the cooling fan 53 is inserted may be formed on the frontsurface of the condenser mounting part 541. The fixing hole 5411 may beformed on four edges of the front surface of the condenser mounting part541, and the fixing member 543 may fix four edges of the cooling fan 53.

The fixing member 543 may be formed of a material having an elasticitylike rubber or silicone so as to absorb vibration when the cooling fan53 is operated. A pair of engaging parts 5431 may be further formedalong the circumference of the fixing member 543 so that the fixingmember 543 may be fixed to be inserted into the fixing hole 5411. Theengaging part 5431 may be formed in a shape that a diameter thereofbecomes narrow toward a front portion, so that the insertion andmounting of the fixing member 543 become easy and the cooling fan 53 isnot easily stripped. The front end of the fixing member 543 may beinserted into an insertion port 531 so that the cooling fan 53 may befixed on the front surface of the condenser mounting part 541.

The tank mounting part 542 may be positioned above the condensermounting part 541, and may have a size and shape corresponding to thecross section of the cooling tank 60 so as to accommodate the lower endof the cooling tank 60. An edge 5421 of the tank mounting part 542 mayextend upward along the circumference and the inner side of the edge5421 may form a predetermined space so that a lower portion of thecooling tank 60 is inserted therein.

A drain hole 5422 through which the drain valve 69 passes may be formedon the edge 5421. The drain hole 5422 may be exposed when the rear cover12 is removed. Therefore, the drain valve 69 may be exposed to theoutside, and thus the drain or charging of the cooling water ispossible.

A plate supporting part (or plate support) 5423 supporting one end ofthe support plate 35 may be formed on the front surface of the condensermounting part 541, in other words, above the cooling fan 53. Therefore,both ends of the support plate 35 may be fixed on the filter bracket 30and the condenser bracket 54, thereby providing a mounting space of theheating and control module 50.

Hereinafter, a water extraction process of the water purifier having thestructure as described above according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure will be described. As shown in FIGS. 42 and 43, the waterinflow pipe 360 of the water purifier 1 may be connected to the waterpipe and receive raw water. The water inflow pipe 360 may be connectedto the pressure reducing valve 133, and the raw water passing throughthe pressure reducing valve 133 may be decompressed in a set pressurefor the operation of the water purifier 1.

The decompressed raw water may flow to the filter 34 side along a pipeconnecting the pressure reducing valve 133 and the filter 34. The rawwater passing through the filter 34 may become purified water byremoving foreign substances. By the opening of the water supply valve361, the purified water may pass through the water supply valve 361 andthe flow sensor 363 in turn along the pipe.

The water supply valve 361 and the flow sensor 363 may be connected tothe main PCB 82, and they may control the opening degree of the watersupply valve 361 depending on a signal transmitted from the main PCB 82.A flow rate detected from the flow sensor 363 may be transmitted to themain PCB 82 and it may be used as data required for the control of thewater purifier 1.

The purified water passing through the flow sensor 363 may be branchedto the cold purified water side 3641 and the hot water side 3642 throughthe branch pipe 364. The purified water flowed to a pipe of the coldpurified water side 3641 may be branched to the cold water side 3651 andthe purified water side 3652 again by the T connector 365 andrespectively connected to the cold water discharge valve 366 and thepurified water discharge valve 367. The purified water discharge valve367 and the cold water discharge valve 366 may be connected to the mainPCB 82 and the opening and closing may be determined. The purified waterdischarge valve 367 and the cold water discharge valve 366 may beselected by the user's setting. The selected valve may be opened by theoperation of the take-out button 41 and the water may be taken out.

The water passing through the cold water discharge valve 366 may passthrough the cooling coil 64 inside the cooling tank 60. The water flowedalong the cooling coil 64 may be heat exchanged with the cooling waterinside the cooling tank 60 and cooled, and, the cooling water may becooled to maintain a set temperature.

For cooling the cooling water, the compressor 51 connected to the mainPCB 82 may be driven. The driving of the compressor 51 may be determinedby the cold water temperature sensor 601 provided in the cooling tank60. Therefore, the cooling water may always maintain a set temperature,and, the driving of the compressor 51 may be adjusted. The compressor 51may be an inverter compressor in which the frequency may be adjustedcorresponding to a required load, and the cooling capacity may beadjusted. That is, the compressor 51 may be driven by the invertercontrol and it may cool the cooling water with optimum efficiency.

The compressor 51 may set the operation in a forced-off state by theuser controlling the operation part 40. When cold water is consumed lessin winter or when power saving is needed or when the user does not wantto use the cold water, the compressor 51 may be maintained in the offstate forcedly.

The main PCB 82 may control the driving of the compressor 51 and alsothe driving of the cooling fan 53. The main PCB 82 may control thedriving of the motor 67. The motor 67 may increase the heat exchangeefficiency of the cooling water and cold water passing through thecooling coil 64, and may be controlled by the main PCB 82. The agitator68 may be rotated by driving of the motor 67, and the cooling water maybe forcedly convected in the cooling tank 60 and effectively cool thepurified water inside the cooling coil 64.

The cold water passing through the cooling tank 60 may be introduced tothe water discharge pipe 261 through the T connector 26, and the coldwater passing through the water discharge pipe 261 may be taken out tothe outside through the water discharge nozzle 25. In the case in whichthe purified water discharge valve 367 is opened, the purified waterpassing through the purified water discharge valve 367 may be introducedto the water discharge pipe 261 through the T connector 26 and passthrough the water discharge pipe 261 and may be taken out to the outsidethrough the water discharge nozzle 25.

In the case in which the user selects the extraction of hot water, thepurified water may be flowed to the hot water side 3642 of the branchpipe 364. The flow control valve 368 may be opened by the control of themain PCB 82, and the water flowed through the flow control valve 368 maybe adjusted to an appropriate flow rate to heat the hot water. That is,the amount of purified water supplied to the hot water tank 71 may beadjusted so that the water may be heated to a set temperature by theinduction heating assembly 70.

The purified water passing through the flow control valve 368 may passthrough the hot water tank 71. In the process of passing through the hotwater tank 71, the purified water may be heated to a set temperature.The hot water tank 71 may be heated in an induction heating method, and,the output of magnetic force of the working coil 72 may be adjusted bythe control of the induction heating PCB 84.

For the driving of the induction heating assembly 70, a high voltage isrequired compared to the main PCB 82, and for the supply of such a highvoltage, the induction heating assembly 70 may receive power from thepower supply PCB 86 connected to a power supply line. The power supplyPCB 86 may supply 8 appropriate power depending on the driving of theinduction heating assembly 70 and supply appropriate power to the mainPCB 82.

Water in the hot water tank 71 may be heated to a set temperature by thedriving of the induction heating assembly 70. A hot water temperaturesensor may be provided in the hot water discharge valve 369. The hotwater temperature sensor may detect the temperature of the hot waterdischarged through the hot water tank 71 and transmit the temperature tothe main PCB 82. The based on the input hot water temperature data, theoutput of the working coil 72 may be adjusted at the main PCB 82.

A temperature of the hot water tank 71 itself may be detected from thetank temperature sensor 741 provided on the outer side of the hot watertank 71. In the case in which the temperature of the hot water tank 71is increased more than a set temperature and there is concern that afire may occur, the tank temperature sensor 741 may transmit a signal tothe main PCB 82 to short-circuit the fuse 742. An OLP (Over LoadProtection) 511 may be connected to the main PCB 82 and when overload ofthe compressor 51 occurs, the OLP 511 may block the power supply andprotects the compressor 51.

In the case in which the fuse 742 is short-circuited by a malfunction ofthe induction heating assembly 70, a power supplied to the inductionheating PCB 84 from the power supply PCB 86 may be blocked and theinduction heating assembly 70 may be prevented from being overheated anddamaged. The heated hot water passing through the hot water tank 71 bythe hot water discharge valve 369 may be flowed to the water dischargenozzle 25 through the hot water pipe 265 to be taken out to the outside.

When the water is taken out by the operation of the take-out button, theLED 2821 of the water discharge part 20 may be illuminated by thecontrol of the operation part PCB 43. By the illumination of the LED2821, the lower portion of the water discharge part 20 may bebrightened. The operation part PCB 43 may recognize the state orreplacement period of the filter 34 through the illumination color ofthe switch LED 434 emitted through the take-out button 41 regardless ofthe operation of the take-out button 41.

The operation state or operation degree of the water purifier 1 may betransferred to and displayed on the user's device such as a mobile phonethrough the NFC PCB 88. Information and an operation signal may betransferred to the NFC PCB 88 through the mobile phone, and the waterpurifier 1 may be driven by using the transferred information. Forexample, the user may confirm the information such as the life span ofthe filter 34 and usage pattern of the water purifier 1 through an Appinstalled on the mobile phone of the user, and the user may set otheroperations of the water purifier 1 such as setting a power saving modeturning off a cold water mode of the water purifier 1 through the App.

While using the water purifier 1, the cooling water inside the coolingtank 60 is drained and new cooling water may be filled therein.Hereinafter, a replacement process of the cooling water will bedescribed with reference to the figure.

As shown in FIGS. 44 and 45, in order to maintain a clean state of theinside of the cooling tank 60, the cooling water inside the cooling tank60 should be exchanged every predetermined period. For this, the userfirst opens the drain valve 69 after exposing the drain valve 69 andthus the cooling water inside the cooling tank 60 may be exposed to theoutside.

The user may connect to the drain valve 69 by using a service pipe 2provided separately. An end part of the service pipe 2 may be connectedto the drain valve 69 in a coupling method, and the service pipe 2 maybe capable of opening the drain valve 69 by the connection. Since thisstructure is the same as a structure of a general coupling pipe, thedetailed description will be omitted.

After the cooling water inside the cooling tank 60 is completelydrained, the other end of the service pipe 2 may be connected to thewater discharge nozzle 25. The drain valve 69 may be maintained openedby the connection of the service pipe 2, and the water discharge nozzle25 may communicate with the inside of the cooling tank 60.

In this state, the user may control the operation part 40 and set a modeof the water purifier 1 to a cooling water replacement mode. In thecooling water replacement mode, when the control part (main PCB 82)controls the take-out button 41, it may allow the purified water to betaken out so that the charge of the cooling water is possible, and thecooling water replacement mode may be set so that a predeterminedquantity of water may be supplied by a single operation. [S110] In thisset state, whether the take-out button 41 is operated may be determined.[S120]

When the user does not operate the take-out button 41 within a setperiod of time after selecting the entry of the cooling waterreplacement mode, the operation for replacing the cooling water may notbe implemented, and the main PCB 82 may return to the normal drivingmode. [S130] When the user presses the take-out button 41, the purifiedwater taken out from the water discharge nozzle 25 may be introducedinto the cooling tank 60 through the service pipe 2, and an operation ofre-filling the cooling water may be started. [S140] In a state in whichthe cooling water replacement mode is set, the flow of the purifiedwater supplied by the flow sensor 363 may be sensed, and the purifiedwater discharge valve 367 may be controlled by the main PCB 82 so thatthe water may be supplied by the set capacity. [S150]

The main PCB 82 may determine a detected value transmitted from the flowsensor 363 and maintains the opening of the purified water dischargevalve 367 until the flow rate reaches a set flow rate. The capacity setin the main PCB 82 may be an appropriate capacity that may be filled inthe cooling tank 60. For example, in the main PCB 82, when the take-outbutton 41 is operated in the cooling water replacement mode, thepurified water discharge valve 367 may be opened and allow the purifiedwater about 2.4 L to be supplied to the cooling tank 60 so that thecooling coil 64 and the evaporator 63 are submerged. [S160]

When the flow rate detected from the flow sensor 363 reaches the setflow rate, the main PCB 82 may judge that the charge of the coolingwater is completed and close the purified water discharge valve 367.[S170] After all water of the set flow rate is completely supplied, thecooling water replacement completion may be displayed through theoperation part 40. The replacement completion of the cooling water maybe displayed through the color of light passing through the take-outbutton 41. The cooling water replacement completion may be output by thebuzzer 435, and the display of the cooling water replacement completionmay use a separate display means. [S180]

When the replacement of the cooling water is completed, the user mayseparate the service pipe 2 from the drain valve 69 and the waterdischarge nozzle 25. The control part may cancel the cooling waterreplacement mode automatically or by the user's setting and switch tothe general normal driving mode. The normal driving mode may be a stateso as to outflow the hot water, purified water and cold water in adesired amount through the operation of the take-out button 41.

Hereinafter, an assembly process of the water purifier having thestructure as described above according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure will be described with reference to the figure. As shown inFIG. 46, in the assembly process of the water purifier 1 according to anembodiment of the present disclosure, the power cord 136 and the waterinflow pipe 360 may be provided on the base 13.

The condenser 52 may be provided on the condenser mounting part 541 ofthe condenser bracket 54. The cooling fan 53 may be coupled to the frontsurface of the condenser mounting part 541. Thus, the assembledcondenser bracket 54 may be mounted on the molded base 13. The rotationring 91 and the pressure reducing valve 133 may be mounted on the base13. [Step 1]

Next, the condenser 52 may be mounted on the base 13. The compressor 51may be positioned above the suction grille 135 formed on the base 13.The compressor 51, the pipe of the condenser 52 and a dryer pipe may bewelded to be connected each other. [Step 2]

After the mounting of the condenser 52 is completed, the cooling tank 60may be mounted on the tank mounting part 542 of the condenser bracket54. The arrangement of the cooling coil 64, evaporator 63, motor 67,agitator 68, and mesh member 65 may be completed in the cooling tank 60,and the cooling tank 60 may be mounted in a state in which the foamingof the insulation body 612 and the insulation cover 622 is completed.

After mounting the cooling tank 60, the pipes such as the dryer andcapillary pipe 55 may be welded and the wire may be connected. Afterevacuating the pipes and the inside of the compressor 51 and thecondenser 52, the refrigerant may be injected therein to be sealed forthe driving of the refrigerating cycle. [STEP 3]

The filter bracket 30 may then be mounted on the base 13. Flow pathpipes in which the water is supplied may be connected each other withthe mounting of the filter bracket 30 while a plurality of valves arecompletely mounted on the filter bracket 30.

The support plate 35 may be mounted between the filter bracket 30 andthe condenser bracket 54. A mounting space of the heating and controlmodule 50 may be secured by the support plate. [STEP 4]

Next, the heating and control module 50 may be mounted on the supportplate 35. The heating and control module 50 may be fixed on the supportplate 35 while the induction heating assembly 70 and the controlassembly 80 are coupled in one module.

The heating and control module 50 may be positioned in a space betweenthe filter bracket 30 and the cooling tank 60 while being mounted. Anupper end of the heating and control module 50 may extend to a positionof the top cover 14 and may be in close contact therewith. Therefore,the heating and control module 50 may be efficiently disposed in a spaceprovided in the water purifier 1. A connector of the induction heatingassembly 70 and a connector of the control assembly 80 may be connectedwhile the mounting of the heating and control module 50 is completed.

If the water purifier 1 is a model only extracting the purified waterand the cold water, not a model extracting the hot water, only thecontrol assembly 80 may be mounted on the support plate 35. Depending onthe option functions, the control assembly 80 in which a correspondingPCB is assembled may be mounted. [STEP 5]

Next, the rotator 21 may be mounted on the upper end of the filterbracket 30. The water discharge part 20 may be assembled in the rotator21, and the upper portion guide bracket 23 and the lower portion guidebracket 24 may be assembled in the rotator housing 22 and the waterdischarge pipe 261 may be provided therein.

The rotator 21 may be seated and rotatably mounted on the rotatormounting part 33 of the filter bracket 30. The pinion gear 271 providedin the rotator 21 may be gear-coupled with the internal gear 331 at theupper end of the filter bracket 30, and when the rotator 21 is rotated,the pinion gear 271 may move along the internal gear 331, and thus therotation speed of the rotator 21 becomes constant.

After mounting the rotator 21, the water discharge pipe 261 and the Tconnector 26 in which the cold and purified water pipes are connectedmay be fitted. The end part of the water discharge pipe 261 may beconnected to the water discharge nozzle 25. The hot water pipe 265 maybe connected to the water discharge nozzle 25 and thus the connection ofpipe is completed.

The upper cover 111 may be coupled to the upper end of the rotator 21.Therefore, since vertical coupling is completed, a stable rotatablestructure may be provided in the rotator 21. [STEP 6]

Next, the top cover 14 is assembled. The top cover 14 may be seated onthe upper surface of the upper cover 111 and the cooling tank 60 whilethe operation part 40 is rotatably mounted thereon.

When the top cover 14 is mounted, the rotation connecting part 421extended from the front surface of the operation part 40 may be insertedinto the coupling rings 236 and 246 of the rotator 21, and thus theoperation part 40 and the rotator 21 are coupled each other and may berotated together. Also, the operation part PCB 43 and the main PCB 82provided on the control assembly 80 may be connected using a connector,and the transmission of the power and signal may be possible.

A filter for test may be mounted on a filter socket of the filterbracket 30, and the test may be implemented after connecting the filter.After the test, the filter for test may be removed and the filter 34 maybe assembled to the filter socket after removing the residual water ofthe flow path.

Hot water heating may be tested by injecting the water to the hot watertank 71 and driving the induction heating assembly 70. After the test,the end cap 7171 may be removed and then the end cap 7171 may bere-mounted after completely draining the residual water of the inside ofthe hot water tank 71. [STEP 7]

Next, the rear cover 12 may be fixed to be screw-fastened to the base13, and then the side panel 15 may be fixed to be screw-fastened to bothsides of the base 13. At this time, the side panel 15 may be coupledwith the top cover 14 by a screw. [STEP 8]

The lower cover 112 may be coupled to the side panel 15 and the rotator21 and the assembly of the water purifier 1 may be completed. The tray90 separately assembled with the lower cover 112 may be packed andshipped together, and, during the installation and use, the user maycouple the tray 90 to the rotation ring 91 and use. [STEP 9]

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the water purifiermay have a compact structure while having a structure in which acompressor, an evaporator, and a condenser for making cold water insidethe water purifier as well as a cooling tank are provided. Especially,the cooling tank may be provided above the condenser, and a controlassembly may be provided in a space between the compressor and thecooling tank, and thus, there is an advantage that a shape of the waterpurifier is made compact by using an internal space efficiently.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a PCB controllingthe operation of the water purifier may be configured in each module,and have a structure mounted on a set position of the control base.Therefore, according to the type of PCB mounted on one control base,implementation of various options is possible and there is an advantagethat a variety of models may be manufactured without changing the innerstructure.

Also, such a control base may be provided in a space between a filterbracket and a cooling tank to further improve the efficiency of thespace, and it may be coupled and mounted with a hot water heating unitto make hot water in a module form, and thus productivity and spaceefficiency may be improved.

A water purifier according to an embodiment of the present disclosuremay implement a cooling cycle by including an inverter compressor,evaporator and condenser, and make cold water. For effective cooling ofthe inverter compressor and the condenser, the condenser may be providedon a suction port and the condenser may be accommodated in the innerside of a condenser bracket, the air flowed by the cooling fan is evenlycooled while passing through the entire condenser, and thus thecompressor and the condenser may be cooled effectively. Also, as thesuction port is formed on a base and the base is spaced apart from theground, the suction port may not be exposed to outside, and thus thereis an advantage that the exterior appearance becomes elegant and thesuction of outdoor air is facilitated at the same time.

A water purifier according to an embodiment of the present disclosuremay have a structure in which a water discharge part in which a waterdischarge nozzle is provided protrudes, and a structure which may berotated freely by a rotation of a rotator. Therefore, a position thereofmay be freely changed so that a user may easily operate, and thus thereis an effect that usability is improved.

Since the user may move the water discharge part to an appropriateposition without being constrained to various installation environmentsby the rotation of the water discharge part, there is an effect that theusability is improved. The operation part may be rotated with the waterdischarge part when the water discharge part is rotated, so an easyoperation is possible at a position in which water is outflowed, and astatus check may be made easily, and thus the usability may be furtherimproved.

A light may be provided on the water discharge part, and the watertake-out state by the water discharge nozzle may be identified easily,and thus the usability may be further improved. In a water purifieraccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a rotation ringmay be provided on a center of rotation of the rotator, and a rotationpipe rotatably fitted to a connecter connected with a water dischargepipe may be provided on the rotation ring. The rotation pipe may beformed of a stainless material, and prevent a pipe or fitting from beingtwisted or damaged even in the repetitive rotation operation of thewater discharge part, and thus durability may be improved.

In a water purifier according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the water discharge may be possible by a pressing operationof a take-out button, and state information of the water purifier may bedisplayed by transmitting the light of different colors through atake-out button. Therefore, there is an advantage that the replacementstate of a filter, or information such as whether the extracted water ishot, cold or purified water can be displayed without a separate display.

Since the pressing operation of a switch and light transmission of anLED are made at the same time on one take-out button, and the switch andLED are designed to be positioned at a position that does not causeinterference with each other, there is an advantage that the operationand display of information are possible through one construction. Sincea water purifier according to an embodiment of the present disclosurehas a structure in which water passing through a hot water tank of aplate shape is heated in an induction heating method, hot water can beheated while passing through the hot water tank, and thus there is anadvantage that the instant extraction of hot water is possible.

Due to the feature of the induction heating method, the heatingperformance may be adjusted through the output control of a workingcoil, and therefore, hot water of different temperature set by the usermay be taken out. In a water purifier according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure, a safety valve may be provided on a branched oneside of an output pipe of the hot water tank, and thus steam may bedischarged through the safety valve when the pressure rises due togeneration of steam while hot water is heated. Therefore, there is anadvantage that extreme pressure rise due to the steam may be prevented,and the hot water heating performance as well as the durability of thehot water tank may be improved.

In a water purifier according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, a plurality of projection parts may be provided in the hotwater tank, and a flow path of water flowing in the hot water tank maybe branched by the projection parts, and thus the water may be evenlyflowed in the entire hot water tank, and the flow velocity may be sloweddown by collisions with the projection parts. Therefore, the waterevenly distributed throughout the entire hot water tank may be evenlyheated, and as the residence time in the hot water tank is increased dueto the reduction of the flow velocity, there is an advantage that moreefficient heating of the hot water is possible.

In a water purifier according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, a cooling coil in which purified water for cooling theinside of a cooling tank flows may be wound, an evaporator may be woundabove the cooling coil and fill cooling water therein to cool the waterpassing through the cooling coil. Therefore, the inside of the coolingtank can be configured compactly and the purified water can beeffectively cooled.

An agitator may be disposed in an inner side area in which the coolingcoil and the evaporator are wound, a circulation of the cooling watermay be further activated, and therefore, the cooling efficiency of thepurified water passing through the cooling coil may be further improved.

In a water purifier according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, a mesh member partitioning an area in which an evaporator,cooling coil and agitator are disposed may be provided in a coolingtank. Cooling water may be flowed by the mesh member, but ice frozen atthe evaporator may not be flowed to the agitator or the cooling tankside, so that a noise or damage of and internal structure caused by thecollision of the ice may be prevented.

A water purifier according to an embodiment of the present disclosuremay discharge cooling water by a drain valve provided in a cooling tank.Therefore, the inside of the cooling tank may be maintained clean, andin order to re-supply the cooling water into the cooling tank, a servicevalve is connected to the drain valve and a take-out nozzle, and thecooling water may be controlled to be supplied by a set amount.Therefore, there is an advantage that the drain and re-supply work ofcooling water are made easily.

In a water purifier according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, a tray which may be rotated along the rotation of a take-outpart which is rotated may be provided. Therefore, even the take-out partmay be rotated at a specific angle, the tray may be disposed verticallydownward, a container may be seated, and residual water may be received,thereby improving usability.

The tray cover may have a grille shape or a water collection hole may beformed, so that the water collection is made easily. The tray may have adetachable structure, and thus there is an advantage that the residualwater may be easily handled.

A floater may be formed inside the tray and the floater may riseaccording to the water level, be exposed to the tray cover, and informthe water level of the tray to the user. Especially, in the case inwhich an indicator of the floater is exposed, it may effectively notifythat the residual water should be emptied more than the set water level,and thus the usability may be improved.

In a control method of a water purifier according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure, cooling water may be drained through a drainvalve while a cooling tank is assembled, and water discharge may beoperated after a setting is changed to a cooling water replacement modeafter the drain valve and water discharge nozzle are connected to aservice pipe. During this operation, the control part may allow a setamount of water flow which may fill the cooling tank to be supplied andreturns to a normal driving mode after completion of the supply of setflow rate. Therefore, the user may replace the cooling water in theinterior of the cooling tank in a simple way, and there is an advantagethat the inside of the cooling tank may be maintained clean.

A water purifier may include a case forming an appearance; a filterbracket provided in the case and on which a filter and a valve aremounted; a condenser bracket provided in the case spaced apart from thefilter bracket and accommodating a condenser; a cooling tank seated onan upper end of the condenser bracket and cooling water purified by thefilter; a support plate connecting between the filter bracket and thecooling tank, and partitioning a space between the filter bracket andthe cooling tank up and down; a compressor provided below the supportplate; and a control assembly mounted on an upper surface of the supportplate. The filter bracket may include a condenser mounting part fixedand mounted on a bottom of the water purifier and accommodating thecondenser; and a tank mounting part formed to be extended from an uppersurface of the condenser mounting part and accommodating a lower end ofthe cooling tank.

Refrigerant tubes bent multiple times may be serially arranged, and thusthe condenser may be formed in a hexahedral shape so as to correspond toan internal space of the condenser mounting part. A filter mounting part(or filter mount) in which the filter may be mounted is depressed at afront surface of the filter bracket, and a plurality of valves may befixed and mounted on a rear surface of the filter bracket.

A front cover detachably provided and opening and closing the filtermounting part, and forming a front surface exterior of the waterpurifier may be provided in the filter bracket. A plate supporting partsupporting the support plate may be extended and formed at the condenserbracket.

An induction heating assembly heating and supplying purified water in aninduction heating method may be further provided on the support plate.The induction heating assembly may be coupled to the control assemblyand mounted on a heating assembly in a module state.

The control assembly may include a control base; an induction heatingPCB mounted on a surface of the control base facing with the inductionheating assembly, and controlling the induction heating assembly; a mainPCB mounted on an opposite surface of the surface in which the inductionheating PCB is mounted and controlling the compressor and the valve; anda power supply PCB mounted on another surface of the control base andsupplying power to the induction heating PCB and the main PCB. An nearfield communication (NFC) PCB through which a short-rage communicationis possible may be provided on an upper end of the control base, and theNFC PCB may be in contact with an upper surface of the case.

A plurality of covers respectively shielding the main PCB, inductionheating PCB and power supply PCB may be provided in the control base.The compressor may be an inverter compressor.

A water purifier may include a base forming a bottom surface of thewater purifier and a suction port therein; a compressor mounted on thebase; a condenser bracket mounted on the base so as to be spaced apartfrom the compressor, and accommodating a condenser; a cooling tankseated on an upper surface of the condenser bracket, and having anevaporator therein to make cold water; a rear cover forming an outerappearance of the water purifier, and having a discharge port formed ata position corresponding to the condenser bracket; and a cooling fanprovided between the compressor and the condenser and allowing airflowed to the suction port to be discharged to the discharge port viathe condenser. A leg extended downwardly and separating a bottom surfaceof the base from a ground in which the water purifier is installed maybe provided on the base, and the suction port may be formed on thebottom surface of the base.

The compressor may overlap with at least a part of the suction port. Amounting part which protrudes so that the compressor is mounted to bespaced apart from the base may be formed on the base.

A nut in which a screw is fastened for fixing the compressor may beprovided on the mounting part by insert injection. A condenser mountingpart accommodating the condenser may be formed in the condenser bracket,and an inlet of the condenser mounting part may be opened toward thecompressor and an outlet of the condenser mounting part may be openedtoward the discharge port and guiding a flow of cooling air.

The discharge port may have a size corresponding to the outlet of thecondenser mounting part, and may be in close contact to an opening ofthe condenser mounting part. The cooling fan may shield the inlet of thecondenser mounting part.

A fixing member penetrating a fixing hole formed on the condensermounting part and fixed on the cooling fan may be further provided, andthe fixing member may be formed of an elastic material. An exteriorshape of the condenser is formed in a cube shape corresponding to thecondenser mounting part.

A water purifier may include a case forming an exterior appearance; around surface rotator rotatably mounted in the case; a water dischargepart protruding from the rotator to an outside of the case and having awater discharge nozzle through which water is taken out therein; and anoperation part mounted on an upper surface of the case and having atake-out button for discharging water, and connected with the rotatorand rotated together when the rotator is rotated. The case may include afront cover forming a front surface exterior of the water purifier, andthe front cover may include an upper cover and a lower cover which arevertically spaced apart and mounted across the rotator.

A filter bracket extended up and down from the inside of the case sothat a filter is mounted thereon and supporting the rotator from thelower portion may be provided, and a rotation guide rail maintaining acontact state with one side surface of the rotator and having acurvature so as to guide the rotation of the rotator may be provided onan upper surface of the filter bracket. An oil damper through which apinion is mounted on a rotating shaft may be provided on the rotator,and an internal gear extended along the curvature may be formed on thefilter bracket, and the pinion may be moved along the internal gear whenthe rotator is rotated.

rotation connecting part extended downward may be provided on a lowersurface of the operation part and a coupling ring in which the rotationconnecting part is inserted and coupled each other may be provided inthe rotator. A center ring may be formed on the center of rotation ofthe rotator, and a rotation pipe rotatably fitted to a connectorconnected to a water discharge pipe connected to a take-out nozzle maybe disposed on the center ring.

The rotation pipe may be formed of a metallic material, and a fittinggrove in which a collet of the connector is inserted may be formed. Theoperation part may be formed in a circular shape, and an upper surfaceof the water discharge part may be formed to have a lower inclinedsurface toward closer to the water discharge part.

A cold purified water connecting part connected with the water dischargepipe in which cold water and purified water are supplied and a hot waterconnecting part connected with a hot water pipe in which the hot wateris provided may be formed in the water discharge nozzle. The waterdischarge part may include a water discharge part housing an uppersurface of which is opened and extended from the rotator and on whichthe water discharge nozzle is mounted; and a water discharge part coveropening and closing the opened upper surface of the water discharge parthousing. A lighting hole may be formed on a bottom surface of the waterdischarge part housing, and a lighting unit emitting light downwardthrough the lighting hole may be provided in an inner side of the waterdischarge part housing.

A water purifier may disclosure include a case forming an exteriorappearance of the water purifier; a take-out button provided on the caseand operated by a user for taking out water; an operation part PCBprovided in the case; a switch provided on the operation part PCB,contacted by the operation of the take-out button and turned on and off;and an LED provided on the operation part PCB and emitting light towardthe take-out button, and at least a part of the take-out button isformed to enable the transmission of light and the LED emits differentcolors of light according to the operation state of the water purifier.The operation button may include a pressing part moved by the user'spressing operation; an elastic part cut along a circumference of thepressing part and providing elasticity for returning the pressing part;a contact part protruding from one end of the pressing part and incontact with the switch according to the movement of the pressing part;and a rotation supporting part protruding from the other end of thepressing part facing the contact part, and becoming a rotation center ofthe pressing part.

A light transmitting part in which the light is transmitted may beformed on the pressing part, and the contact part may be formed furtheroutside than the light transmitting part. A light guide extended to theLED side along the light transmitting part and guiding the light of theLED toward the light transmitting part may be further formed.

A button plate shielding the light transmitting part may be furtherprovided on the pressing part, and the button plate may enable thetransmission of light. The LED may be positioned at an inner side of thelight transmitting part.

The LED may emit different colors of light according to a replacementperiod of a filter. A plurality of LED may be provided and emit thedifferent colors of light. A buzzer indicating information according toa state of the water purifier in sound may be provided in the operationpart PCB.

A water purifier may include a case forming an exterior appearance; afilter provided in the case; and an induction heating assembly heatingpurified water passing through the filter, wherein the induction heatingassembly includes a hot water tank in which purified water passesthrough; a working coil wound many times at a position facing the hotwater tank and emitting an electromagnetic force for induction-heatingthe hot water tank; a ferrite core radially disposed around the centerof the working coil in plural and preventing a loss of theelectromagnetic force generated in the working coil; and a heatingbracket mounted on a surface in which the hot water tank and the workingcoil are opposed to each other.

An input pipe in which the purified water is introduced may be formed ona lower end of the hot water tank, and an output pipe in which hot waters discharged may be formed on an upper end of the hot water tank. Aconnector may be connected to the input pipe, and a pipe in which acheck valve and water are provided may be connected to one side of theconnector, and an end cap opened and closed for draining water of thehot water tank may be mounted on the other side of the connector.

A connector may be connected to the output pipe, and a pipe in which thehot water is outflowed may be connected to one side of the connector,and a safety valve opened in the case in which a pressure of the hotwater tank is more than a certain pressure and discharging steam of theinside of the hot water tank may be provided on the other side of theconnector. A steam pipe discharging steam may be connected to an outletof the safety valve, and the steam pipe may extend to an outer side ofthe water purifier so as to drain steam to the outside of the waterpurifier.

The induction heating assembly may be coupled to a control assemblycontrolling the driving of the water purifier in module. A coupling bossextended to be coupled with the control assembly while separated fromthe control assembly may be provided in the heating bracket.

A hot water temperature sensor which is in contact with the hot watertank and measuring the temperature of hot water of the hot water tank,and a fuse blocking power supply to the induction heating assembly inthe case in which the temperature is more than a set temperature may beprovided on the heating bracket. The hot water tank may form a surfacefacing the working coil and includes a first cover which is a flatshape; and a second cover jointed with a peripheral surface of the firstcover and forming a space in which an irregular shape is formed andwater is flowed.

A plurality of projection parts extended from an inlet in which water isintroduced to an outlet direction, and protruding toward the first coverside may be formed in the second cover. The projection parts may includea vertical protrusion part extended in a vertical direction, and ahorizontal protrusion part extended from both ends of the verticalprotrusion part in a horizontal direction.

At least any one of the projection parts may be in contact with thefirst cover and jointed to each other by welding. A mica sheet formaintaining a distance from the hot water tank or the ferrite core maybe provided at at least one surface of both surfaces of the coil.

A water purifier may include a case forming an exterior appearance; acompressor mounted in the case; a condenser bracket mounted in the caseand accommodating a condenser; and a cooling tank seated on an uppersurface of the condenser bracket and cooling purified water, and thecooling tank includes a tank body in which cooling water isaccommodated; a tank cover shielding an opened upper surface of the tankbody; a cooling coil wound in a coil shape from the inner side of thetank body, and guiding the purified water to pass through the inner sideof the tank body; an evaporator wound in a coil shape from the innerside of the tank body, and cooling the cooling water above the coolingcoil; and an agitator rotated in a space of a center at which thecooling coil and the evaporator are wound, and forcing the circulationof the cooling water of the tank body.

A mesh member disposed between the cooling coil and the evaporator,partitioning the inside of the tank body and forming a plurality ofholes to allow the access of the cooling water may be provided in theinner side of the tank body. The mesh member may include a partitioningpart which partitions the inside of the tank body up and down, and inwhich an agitator hole through which the agitator penetrates is formed;and an extending part formed to be extended upwardly along acircumference of the agitator hole, and partitioning a space between theagitator and the evaporator.

A lower portion supporting part extended downward and seated on an upperend of the cooling coil may be formed in the mesh member. An upperportion supporting part protruding so that the evaporator may be seatedthereon may be formed in the mesh member.

A fixing hook which may fix the evaporator by pressing an upper endthereof may extend from the mesh member. A coil supporting partprotruding upward and supporting a lower end of the cooling coil andseparating the lower end of the cooling coil from a bottom surface ofthe tank body may be formed on the bottom surface of the tank body.

The agitator may pass the evaporator and extend to one side of thecooling coil. An outer side surface of the tank body and the tank covermay be surrounded by an insulator. A tank mounting part opened upward sothat a lower portion of the cooling tank may be inserted and mounted maybe formed on the upper surface of the condenser bracket.

A drain valve opening and closing so as to drain water inside thecooling tank to outside may be provided in the cooling tank. A drainpart inclined or depressed may be formed on a bottom surface of thecooling tank, and the drain part may be communicated with the drainvalve.

The drain valve may be opened while a pipe for injection of coolingwater is connected. The other end of the pipe for injection of thecooling water may be connected to a take-out nozzle of the waterpurifier, and a control part controlling the operation of the waterpurifier outflows a set amount of water so as to fill the cooling tank.

A water purifier may include a base forming a bottom surface and formingan exterior appearance; a take-out part having a take-out nozzle andprotruding toward an outer side of the case but rotatably providedaround an inner side of the case as an axis; a rotation ring rotatablymounted on the base; and a tray detachably mounted on the rotation ringand extended toward the outer side of the case. The tray may include atray body having an opened upper surface and accommodating water fallingfrom the take-out nozzle; and a tray cover detachably provided on anupper surface of the tray body and at least a part of which is formed ina grille shape so that water may be passed therethrough.

A floater may be accommodated in the tray, and a depression partdepressed in a size which may accommodate a lower portion of the floatermay be formed in the tray body, and an indicating hole opened so that anupper end of the floater may be exposed is formed in the tray cover. Thefloater may include a floating part accommodated in the depression partand formed of a material floating on the water; a cap coupled to thefloating part and positioned at the inner side of the indicating hole;and an indicator provided below the cab and formed in a different colorwith the tray cover, and in the case in which the tray is positioned ata set level or higher, the indicator is exposed above the indicatinghole by rising of the floating part.

The depression part may be in contact with a ground in which the waterpurifier is installed. A water collection hole may be opened at the traycover corresponding to a vertical lower portion of the water dischargenozzle. A tray coupling part may protrude from and be formed on thetray, and a tray mounting part in which the tray coupling part may beinserted formed in the rotation ring, and the tray mounting part isexposed form a lower end to an outer side of the case.

The case may include a front cover forming an exterior appearance of arounded front surface, and a rear end of the base may be depressed alonga curvature corresponding to the front cover. A stopper in contact witha side surface of the base when the tray is rotated and limiting therotation may be formed to stepped on the base.

A movement preventing part formed to extend forward and in which bothsides of a lower end part of the tray is inserted when the tray isrotated may be formed on both sides of the stopper. A rotation guidingpart extended to have a curvature corresponding to a curvature of therotation ring, and in close contact to a lower side surface of therotation ring and guiding the rotation of the rotation ring may beformed in the base.

A control method of a water purifier may include a step of convertinginto a cooling water replacement mode by a user's input while a drainvalve and a water discharge nozzle are connected by using a service pipeprovided separately; a step of sensing an amount of water supplied by antake-out operation of the user by a flow sensor and transferring to acontrol part, and opening, by the control part, a purified water valveso that purified water is supplied in a set amount; and a step ofclosing the purified water valve and converting to a normal driving modewhen the set amount of purified water is completely supplied to thecooling tank. The drain valve may be opened when the service pipe isconnected.

During the cooling water replacement mode and the normal driving mode,the control part may display a mode selected by an operation part. AnLED emitting light to a water discharge switch of the operation part mayemit different colors of light, and thus the control part may displaythe cooling water replacement mode and the normal driving mode. The setflow rate may be set to an amount such that the cooling coil and theevaporator inside the cooling tank may sink.

Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theembodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances ofsuch phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarilyall referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection withany embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the purview of oneskilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristicin connection with other ones of the embodiments.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number ofillustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerousother modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled inthe art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles ofthis disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modificationsare possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subjectcombination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawingsand the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications inthe component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also beapparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A water purifier comprising: a case that forms anouter shape of the water purifier; a base forming a bottom surface ofthe water purifier and including a suction port; a compressor mounted onthe base; a condenser bracket mounted on the base to be spaced apartfrom the compressor and accommodating a condenser; a cooling tank seatedon an upper surface of the condenser bracket and having an evaporatortherein to make cold water; at least one filter provided in the case andconfigured to purify water that flows through the case; a discharge portformed in the case and provided at a position corresponding to thecondenser bracket; a condenser mount that is formed in the condenserbracket and configured to accommodate the condenser, the condenser mountcomprising an inlet that is open toward the compressor and an outletthat is open toward the discharge port; and a cooling fan providedbetween the suction port and the condenser bracket and configured tocycle air from the suction port to the discharge port through thecondenser.
 2. The water purifier according to claim 1, wherein a legextended downward and separating a bottom surface of the base from aground on which the water purifier is installed is provided on the base,and the suction port is formed in the bottom surface of the base.
 3. Thewater purifier according to claim 2, wherein a lower surface of thecompressor overlaps with at least a part of the suction port.
 4. Thewater purifier according to claim 3, wherein a compressor mountprotrudes from the base so that the compressor is mounted to be spacedapart from the base.
 5. The water purifier according to claim 4, whereina nut in which a screw to fix the compressor is fastened is provided onthe compressor mount.
 6. The water purifier according to claim 1,wherein the discharge port has a size corresponding to the outlet of thecondenser mount and is in close contact with an opening of the condensermount.
 7. The water purifier according to claim 1, wherein the coolingfan shields the inlet of the condenser mount.
 8. The water purifieraccording to claim 1, further including a fastener penetrating a fixinghole formed on the condenser mount and fixed on the cooling fan, whereinthe fastener is formed of an elastic material.
 9. The water purifieraccording to claim 1, wherein an exterior shape of the condenser has acubical shape and an interior shape of the condenser mount is formed tocorrespond to the cubical shape of the condenser.
 10. The water purifieraccording to claim 1, wherein the cooling fan, the inlet, the outlet,and discharge port are provided in series.
 11. The water purifieraccording to claim 1, wherein a circumferential surface of the condenseris covered by the condenser mount except for the inlet and the outlet.12. The water purifier according to claim 1, wherein an exterior shapeof the condenser corresponds to an interior shape of the condensermount.